Category: Reborn to Stew Soup (GL)

Chapter 111: The Small, Dark Room

Pan Xiang repeatedly insisted that those two scenes deviated from her script, but Director Pan didn’t understand her distress. Ji Junxin started putting on her makeup immediately after lunch, her eagerness also a mystery to Director Pan.

I must be getting old, he thought, unable to keep up with these young people.

But their individual anxieties and eagerness didn’t affect the afternoon filming, which started on time.

Even with Ji Junxin’s early makeup preparations, they still had to wait for Jiang Duo, who hadn’t eaten lunch on set and only returned just before the end of their lunch break.

Jiang Duo was frustrated. Her family was a mess, her mother’s gambling debts seemingly endless, her father unable to control her mother. She had to work, to earn money to repay the debts. She couldn’t stay home and watch over her mother. Although the debts to the gambling den were almost paid off, she still owed a large sum to Lu Gaoshi.

And Lu Gaoshi’s money wasn’t easy to repay. Jiang Duo wasn’t stupid, she knew what Lu Gaoshi wanted. She had initially played along, hoping to use Lu Gaoshi’s connections to get closer to Ji Junxin and Qiong Yu. But after several attempts, she realized that although Qiao Rubai and Ji Junxin were polite, they weren’t interested in her. Forget about connections, even a simple conversation was impossible. The Qiong Yu path was blocked, and now, her family owed Lu Gaoshi a large sum, with no way to repay it! The Jiang family’s initial plan of using Jiang Dingyi to win over Lu Gaoshi and then dumping her after securing a deal with Qiong Yu had failed. Now, without any hope of working with Qiong Yu, Lu Gaoshi was their creditor, inescapable.

Jiang Duo knew her father was still meeting with Lu Gaoshi, but she couldn’t control the nature of their relationship. After all, she was just a small-time actress, her future uncertain. Her hard-earned money had already been used to pay off her mother’s debts, she had no money or power to “rescue” her father from Lu Gaoshi. Regardless of their relationship, she couldn’t do anything about it. If her father wronged anyone, it was her mother, let it be her mother’s karma for her gambling addiction.

Jiang Duo knew that her family problems were affecting her performance, her anxiety leading to even more mistakes. She wasn’t a big star, just an actress Dajin Entertainment was trying to promote. People’s displeasure, the cold shoulders and subtle criticisms, were unavoidable. Even Zhang Zijing, from the same company, who had shown some interest in her, was now distant. All she could do was endure.

She had initially panicked after learning about her family’s financial situation, her mind consumed by it. But this only lasted for about a month. Although still distressed, her state of mind gradually improved. Unfortunately… by then, she had already become unpopular in the crew. Her later poor performance was partly due to her family problems, and partly… because of the crew’s attitude towards her.

Once you make a mistake, it’s hard to recover.

Jiang Duo could only hope to finish this film and then start anew with a different crew.

Today’s scene was her last one in “Imperial Secrets,” a thought that filled her with relief. She could finally escape this terrible environment!

Waking up that morning, she felt a renewed sense of hope and anticipation, unlike her usual dejection! She could almost see a brighter future waiting for her after this scene.

The feeling of finally escaping a toxic work environment… that was Jiang Duo’s current state.

The scene of Consort Zhu being force-fed poison was originally scheduled for the morning. Jiang Duo had thought she could finish her part in this production today. But Ji Junxin, who usually nailed her scenes in one take, kept NGing, and Director Pan didn’t seem to be letting her pass. Seeing the time, Jiang Duo figured finishing her scene in the morning was unlikely. And then Director Pan, for some reason, decided to reshoot a scene Mi Hongdou had already completed. Jiang Duo sighed, things never went as planned. Director Pan’s way of doing things was really annoying. She glanced at the bustling set, then went to her resting area.

Jiang Duo didn’t know she had missed two great performances. But even if she did, she wouldn’t have cared.

For her, a good performance wasn’t the priority anymore, she just wanted to be done with this crew!

Unable to finish in the morning, Jiang Duo, annoyed, ate a lot for lunch. Looking at the food, she couldn’t help but think of Ji Junxin. Although she hadn’t had many opportunities to get close to Ji Junxin during these past few months of filming, she had to admit that Lu Gaoshi was right, Ji Junxin had a weakness for food. If it weren’t for Mi Hongdou moving into Ji Junxin’s room and Jiang Lingling bringing a feast to the set every day, Jiang Duo thought she could have used food to build a relationship with Ji Junxin. Unfortunately, they had beaten her to it!

Thinking this, Jiang Duo finished her meal, her resentment growing.

Negativity breeds negativity.

But when she returned to the set, still annoyed, she was surprised to find someone even more resentful than her.

As soon as she entered the makeup room, she felt a hostile gaze, a blatant, unwavering stare.

As the crew’s NG queen, she was used to such looks.

But she hadn’t even started filming yet! And why was this almost murderous gaze coming from Ji Junxin, who was known for her good temper!

Even with Lu Gaoshi’s help, she hadn’t been able to win over Ji Junxin. After Lu Gaoshi left Qiong Yu, she had tried to approach Ji Junxin a few times, but… she had been politely but firmly rebuffed. Even without any friends in the crew, she couldn’t keep fawning over Ji Junxin, especially with Mi Hongdou always nearby, frowning at her. So, for the past few months, besides filming, she had barely interacted with Ji Junxin. But that didn’t mean she hadn’t noticed Ji Junxin’s good temper.

So why this sudden hostility? Jiang Duo hesitated at the door, almost afraid to enter.

But with the end of the lunch break, she had to go in. To her surprise, as she sat down and started with her makeup, although the hostile gaze persisted, it seemed to soften slightly.

It was strange.

But it didn’t matter, it was her last scene anyway, Jiang Duo comforted herself.

Since Director Pan insisted on using real props, she had asked the props department earlier and, knowing that the “poison” was just flat cola, felt relieved. As long as it wasn’t something disgusting, she could handle this scene.

She was wrong.

Jiang Duo, as Consort Zhu, after having her old-age makeup done, was hung, spread-eagle, in a small, dark room.

According to the script, Consort Zhu seemed to have anticipated this day, but when it finally arrived, she still struggled, her eyes filled with defiance. It wasn’t until Miao Qianye, now the Empress Dowager, opened the door that she asked, her voice choked with anger and despair, “Where’s my son?”

Miao Qianye, also with graying hair, replied calmly, “Dead.”

Then, ignoring Consort Zhu’s angry curses, Miao Qianye, her expression cold, refused the servants’ assistance and personally took the bowl of medicine from the tray, forcing it down Consort Zhu’s throat. Just a few drops were enough to be fatal, but Miao Qianye, ignoring Consort Zhu’s struggles, even the blood that started trickling from her mouth, forced her to drink the entire bowl, the blood mixing with the medicine.

Jiang Duo had initially thought that the only difficulty in this scene was remembering to bite the small blood capsule hidden in her mouth while being force-fed the medicine.

When filming started, she realized how wrong she was.

The so-called “small, dark room” wasn’t that dark, with cameras and crew members around, Jiang Duo wasn’t afraid at all.

Until… the door opened.

The light from outside wasn’t particularly bright. What was dazzling… was Ji Junxin.

Dressed in the heavy, dark robes of the Empress Dowager, her expression cold and imposing, she stood at the door, followed by a retinue of servants.

She wasn’t excited about killing someone she disliked. It was as if she was just here to crush an insignificant ant, an effortless task, not worth any excitement.

As Ji Junxin approached, Jiang Duo, acting out her struggles, prepared to ask, “Where’s my son?”

But when Ji Junxin was close enough for her to see her expression clearly, Jiang Duo froze.

What kind of look was that… Jiang Duo felt like she was looking at the real Empress Dowager, her word law.

Was that… killing intent? Jiang Duo shivered.

“Cut!” Director Pan’s voice.

Jiang Duo, who had expected a quick and easy scene, was now trapped in a series of “cuts.”

And no matter how many times they reshot it, every time the door opened, it was the same expression, the same aura. The repeated NGs didn’t seem to affect Ji Junxin at all.

The more they NGed, the more terrified Jiang Duo became. This wasn’t normal! Even if Ji Junxin was immersed in the role, her acting that good, how could her state remain unaffected after so many NGs? And… Ji Junxin’s aura seemed to intensify with each take. Jiang Duo almost felt that if she NGed again, Ji Junxin wouldn’t just feed her the medicine, but would smash the bowl against her face!

No, Ji Junxin wouldn’t do that! Jiang Duo refused to believe it, but her instincts told her that Ji Junxin’s patience was wearing thin. She looked at Director Pan and the crew pleadingly, wanting to ask for a break, hoping it would make Ji Junxin act normally again, although she doubted it.

But all she saw were annoyed and impatient expressions, their patience also wearing thin…

Jiang Duo, her arms tied, spread-eagle, suddenly felt like the real Consort Zhu, trapped and helpless, everyone thinking she deserved it.

A strong sense of fear washed over her.

Who said historical dramas were safe! She felt a sense of danger.

With the increasingly intimidating Ji Junxin on one side, and the impatient crew on the other, Jiang Duo didn’t dare to NG again, she had reached her limit.

Desperate times called for desperate measures.

Jiang Duo, no longer daring to NG, when the door opened for the next take, she also became immersed in the role…

Perhaps because her current fear mirrored Consort Zhu’s, she finally managed to deliver her lines and interact with Ji Junxin without NGing.

And her genuine fear, projected onto Consort Zhu, made her performance even better, even satisfying Director Pan.

Director Pan rubbed his eyes, couldn’t believe that the terrified yet defiant Consort Zhu was actually Jiang Duo.

How well Jiang Duo acted didn’t matter to Ji Junxin.

As long as Director Pan didn’t call cut, she would follow the script, Miao Qianye would have her revenge for Qin Muxue.

Having to follow the script for revenge was so frustrating. The desire to have her drink the same poison, to have her suffer the same fate, burned in her heart.

No matter how long it took, how many takes, she would have her revenge.

Director Pan didn’t call cut, and Ji Junxin, increasingly immersed, her pent-up rage and desire for revenge almost overwhelming her.

As long as she drinks it, the same poison, my revenge will be complete.

Don’t rush, don’t rush…

Ji Junxin steadily held the bowl and brought it to Jiang Duo’s lips.

Jiang Duo’s trembling lips touched the rim of the bowl.

And then, Ji Junxin, who had been so gentle, suddenly shoved the bowl against Jiang Duo’s mouth.

Jiang Duo’s teeth hit the porcelain, a sharp pain.

And it was just the beginning.

The pain jolted Jiang Duo out of character. But she quickly realized that this was almost over, she couldn’t NG, she couldn’t face this Ji Junxin again, this crazy woman!

Jiang Duo endured the pain as her lips, teeth, even her tongue, were pressed against the bowl, and managed to bite the blood capsule hidden in her mouth.

She spat out the liquid, pretending to vomit blood.

It’s over… just finish this bowl, and it’s done. She relaxed slightly, and Ji Junxin, seizing the opportunity, poured the medicine down her throat, making her choke.

Director Pan still hadn’t called cut, so… the scene continued, and Jiang Duo, choking, finished it, driven by her survival instinct.

When she finally closed her eyes, she didn’t want to open them again, didn’t want to see that lunatic Ji Junxin. She felt like her lips were cracked, her teeth aching. And she couldn’t even complain.

Consort Zhu, her head drooping limply, died in front of Miao Qianye.

Ji Junxin, holding the empty bowl, her expression blank, turned and walked away, her movements stiff and mechanical.

A crew member whispered to Director Pan, “The script says Miao Qianye should cry after feeding her the poison, should we call cut?”

The cameraman, following Ji Junxin, captured the moment the bowl slipped from her hand as she continued walking, seemingly oblivious.

Director Pan watched the monitor and shook his head. “No, this is perfect. Keep this shot.”

Jiang Duo, who had been playing dead with her eyes closed, barely daring to breathe, afraid of another NG, felt someone untying her. Finally, it was over.

Her arms released, she almost collapsed, weak and pitiful.

Unfortunately, she couldn’t show her suffering and humiliation, or Mi Hongdou and Qiao Rubai would have gleefully said, “You deserved it!”

Ji Junxin, with her intense performance, had inadvertently avenged her past self.

Since that morning’s scene, Mi Hongdou had sensed something was off with Ji Junxin. But if she asked, Ji Junxin would just retort with, “You and Qiao Rubai had secrets, and you wouldn’t tell me either.” And Mi Hongdou had always been silenced by this… Seeing that Ji Junxin’s only unusual behavior was her serious expression and her silence, Mi Hongdou assumed she was just affected by the heavy emotional scenes.

But after Jiang Duo’s scene, Mi Hongdou felt even more uneasy.

Compared to Director Pan and the others, who were focused on the technical aspects, Mi Hongdou, concerned about Ji Junxin, instinctively felt that something was wrong. But when she tried to approach her, she was rebuffed again. This time, Ji Junxin didn’t ask about her conversation with Qiao Rubai, but just looked at Mi Hongdou silently, her gaze complex.

After Qiao Rubai’s story, Mi Hongdou couldn’t bear to look at Ji Junxin, couldn’t bear to think about what she must have been like in her previous life. Now, Ji Junxin’s silence and her steady gaze were unbearable.

And her attempts at conversation were met with just a curt “I’m fine,” or a slightly more elaborate “I’m fine, really.”

Mi Hongdou hadn’t gotten anywhere when Director Pan announced a new plan.

“While Ji Junxin is in the zone, let’s film the final estate scene.” What?

Director Pan had made the decision, Ji Junxin readily agreed, and Mi Hongdou… what choice did she have?

Fortunately, for the final estate scene, they just needed to make Ji Junxin look older and have her walk around the estate. She could consider it a relaxing stroll… Mi Hongdou, without any say in the matter, could only think this.

As the makeup artist aged Ji Junxin, and she slowly walked around the estate, touching the old spinning wheel, Mi Hongdou felt a pang of nostalgia.

Not long ago, she and Ji Junxin had been filming here every day, complaining about the desolate surroundings while enjoying Jiang Lingling’s feasts. And now, the film was almost finished…

Every encounter in life was a gift, no matter how joyful, it always ended in separation.

The estate, still desolate and deserted, felt strangely cold. Mi Hongdou’s gaze followed Ji Junxin’s slow movements, her suppressed sadness surfacing.

It was just a walk… why does it feel like it’s pulling at my heartstrings?

She suddenly remembered a quote she had read long ago: “Cruelty is revealing the truth at the happiest moment.”

When the audience saw the once bustling estate, now deserted, only the elderly Miao Qianye slowly walking through it, searching for traces of their past struggles and joys, how would they feel? Would they feel as heartbroken as she did?

Mi Hongdou’s gaze towards Ji Junxin softened… at least, in this life, she wouldn’t let her be alone again.

In this life, I will absolutely not do any wire stunts! Absolutely!

Chapter 110: Grandpa

When Miao Qianye on the screen leaned over, resting her forehead against the young Empress’s folded hands, and the curtains fell, Director Pan thought that was the end of Ji Junxin’s improvisation.

Indeed, her performance in this scene, from the initial outburst of anger and vulnerability as she barged into the bedchamber, to the hesitant fear as she approached the truth, was far superior to her earlier takes. The same person, the same actions, but the feeling was entirely different, every movement, every glance, emotionally charged.

Was it because this scene was filmed so soon after Mi Hongdou’s suicide scene? Director Pan could almost feel the emotional continuity between the two scenes.

The sorrow deepened, the tragedy amplified… Miao Qianye’s arrival seemed to elevate the young Empress’s earlier despair and resignation. The Empress’s final act of drawing the curtains had been heartbreaking enough, but Miao Qianye’s panicked arrival made it even more poignant.

Then, Ji Junxin, deviating from the script, after confirming the Empress’s death, stood up, and then, in a sudden outburst of anger, pulled the Empress’s body up. Director Pan almost crushed his own hand.

Yes, that was it. Besides the sorrow, there was also anger, resentment! How could you decide this on your own, sacrificing your life for me!

The Empress’s suicide was a sacrifice, an act of giving up. She had given up on their shared struggle, their unspoken bond forged in adversity. She had chosen sacrifice, and Miao Qianye didn’t want it.

Director Pan watched as Ji Junxin grabbed Mi Hongdou’s clothes, pulling up the lifeless body, her eyes filled with not just grief, but also… a hint of hatred.

Yes, hatred was justified. We promised to face this together.

Director Pan was surprised by Ji Junxin’s performance, so different from her earlier takes, elevating the scene to a new level. And when Ji Junxin leaned over, resting her forehead against Mi Hongdou’s hand, he marveled at her portrayal of this deep friendship.

This scene was far superior to the previous ones, perfectly building on the emotional foundation laid by Mi Hongdou’s suicide scene. But he still felt… something was missing? Ji Junxin’s performance was brilliant, even better than her previous ones. He couldn’t quite pinpoint what was lacking.

He shook his head. Perhaps it wasn’t lacking anything, perhaps he was just being too critical…

Just then, from behind the curtains, a choked sob, a heart-wrenching cry, pierced through the fabric, stabbing at his heart. Director Pan froze. Yes, that was it, the final… emotional explosion.

The helplessness, the sorrow, the unspoken anger… all released in that one cry.

He instinctively looked at the screen. Fortunately, during the brief silence after the curtain fell, the camera had still been rolling.

This had to be included! It was perfect, so emotionally resonant, it would make this film unforgettable. Director Pan was so excited that he could barely contain himself, he wanted to release the film right then and there.

At his age, with his established career, this kind of excitement, this passion, this uncontrollable enthusiasm, was a rare feeling.

“Imperial Secrets” will be a hit! The friendship between Miao Qianye and the young Empress will move so many people, will make them envious! Director Pan thought confidently.

Unlike the elated Director Pan, Mi Hongdou, playing the corpse, wasn’t having a good time.

She had thought that after filming the suicide scene, she had overcome the biggest challenge of this film, and this last scene, Ji Junxin’s big moment, she just had to lie there quietly.

But this scene had become a hidden, post-game boss, its difficulty level skyrocketing.

Mi Hongdou hadn’t expected playing a corpse to be so difficult…

After the suicide scene, she had lingered on the bed, already detached from the role. She had approached this scene with a casual attitude, not intending to immerse herself.

Playing a corpse, the most important things were: don’t move, and breathe as shallowly as possible. This wasn’t difficult for Mi Hongdou.

Studies showed that humans relied heavily on their sight. When deprived of visual input, other senses became heightened.

Mi Hongdou, her eyes closed, experienced this firsthand.

Lying still, she could hear Ji Junxin entering the room, could feel her lifting the curtain.

And then, her peace was shattered.

Something approached, carried by a breeze, a coolness, stopping just before her. She clearly smelled… Ji Junxin’s hand cream, the scent lingering, not dissipating.

If her nose wasn’t malfunctioning, then… had Ji Junxin changed the scene? Was she testing her breathing?

Mi Hongdou’s mind reeled. Qiao Rubai’s earlier words, although she didn’t dare to dwell on them, were still fresh in her memory.

In her previous life… when she died… had Ji Junxin also done this, desperately searching for a sign of life? The two scenes overlapped in her mind, and her breathing quickened.

No… no… Mi Hongdou forced herself to calm down, to slow her breathing. She was filming, playing a corpse, she couldn’t ruin the take with her own emotions, she couldn’t waste Ji Junxin’s effort!

So, she struggled to maintain her composure in this supposedly easy scene.

She relaxed her body, cleared her mind, and focused on controlling her breathing, becoming acutely aware of the moment Ji Junxin’s hand retreated.

The rustling of the falling curtain brought a slight relief.

But before she could relax completely, she felt a gust of wind, her clothes being clutched tightly, her upper body lifted.

What the hell! Mi Hongdou desperately tried to remain still, to suppress her panic and not break character.

Ji Junxin is just acting… acting… acting… she told herself.

Fortunately, this uncomfortable position didn’t last long. She felt herself being gently lowered, and as her back touched the bed, her racing heart calmed down slightly.

Ji Junxin’s hand brushed against her chest, her neck, a tingling sensation that made her skin crawl. Mi Hongdou hated her heightened senses…

She didn’t dare to imagine what Ji Junxin looked like now, focusing on controlling her own body, which only made it worse.

Then, as Ji Junxin leaned over, Mi Hongdou felt the warmth and dampness on the back of her hand, and she realized how difficult it was to play a corpse.

Although it was just acting, she desperately wanted to wipe away Ji Junxin’s tears, to hold her tightly… to tell her it was all fake, not to cry!

The dampness on her hand spread, but Director Pan still hadn’t called cut. Mi Hongdou was about to break.

She didn’t have to wait for Director Pan’s “cut.” Ji Junxin’s choked cry made her break character.

That cry was like a knife, piercing her heart.

Forgetting everything, Mi Hongdou opened her eyes, her vision blurring from the sudden light, and reached out, her hand cupping Ji Junxin’s face.

“…” She wanted to ask what was wrong, but as Ji Junxin, following her touch, lifted her face and met her gaze, the words died in her throat.

What kind of gaze was that? … Mi Hongdou couldn’t describe it, but she felt that… perhaps this was how Ji Junxin had looked after her death in her previous life. Like a whirlpool of sorrow, drawing in everyone who looked at her, crushing them with its intensity.

Mi Hongdou had been wrong, her heart wasn’t just pierced, it was shattered into a million pieces.

“The… filming… is over…” Mi Hongdou didn’t know what to say, she wasn’t even sure if they were finished, but these words seemed like the only possible comfort. Yes, comfort, she didn’t know how to comfort Ji Junxin. She clumsily wiped the tears from Ji Junxin’s face, but it was useless… Ji Junxin continued crying.

Something was wrong! Mi Hongdou couldn’t wipe away her tears, her own heart aching with worry and helplessness.

Ji Junxin’s gaze, slightly unfocused, then she pulled back slightly, away from Mi Hongdou’s touch.

Mi Hongdou froze.

Ji Junxin suddenly stood up, roughly wiped her face with her sleeve, and without a word, left the bed.

Ji Junxin’s tears, cold against her palm, Mi Hongdou, like a startled bird, was stunned by her sudden departure.

Something was definitely wrong. She quickly followed Ji Junxin, who was walking towards Director Pan.

Director Pan, still immersed in the scene, hadn’t noticed Ji Junxin’s approach, her expression resolute.

“Let’s film the next scene,” Ji Junxin said as she reached him. “The next scene should be the poisoning scene, I’m ready, let’s begin.”

It was common for directors to urge actors, but actors asking to start the next scene immediately was rare. However, Director Pan, having experienced the actors’ eagerness during the escape scenes, was relatively calm.

“It’s almost lunch time, let’s wrap up for the morning and film that scene in the afternoon,” he said, still thinking about how to edit the two scenes together for maximum impact, not wanting to rush into the next one.

“…” Ji Junxin seemed unwilling to accept his refusal and insisted, “The next scene was originally scheduled for the morning. I know I wasted some time earlier, but I promise I won’t delay the next scene, we’ll finish before lunch.”

Ji Junxin’s eagerness, practically guaranteeing a one-take pass, made Director Pan pause.

Why so eager?

Facing her sincerity, he almost couldn’t refuse, but then he noticed her red eyes.

“Well… it’s not about the previous scene. It’s just that for the next scene, you’ll need to reapply your makeup, to look older, which will take time. And your eyes… you need to rest, to recover.” He tried to be gentle. “And even if you don’t NG, it won’t matter. The next scene is with Jiang Duo… it will definitely take a long time. Let’s have lunch first, rest, and then focus on that scene this afternoon. You also need to rest.”

His words were reasonable and well-intentioned. Ji Junxin knew this and silently retreated.

Mi Hongdou arrived just in time to hear their conversation.

But it was too late to intervene, the matter was settled.

As Ji Junxin walked away, Mi Hongdou followed. She caught up, and then, hesitantly, asked, “Are you… okay?”

Ji Junxin stopped abruptly, and Mi Hongdou, not reacting in time, took a few more steps before turning back awkwardly.

“What is it?” Ji Junxin’s eyes were still slightly red, but there were no tears. Her gaze towards Mi Hongdou was just… questioning.

It was as if the earlier emotions had been an illusion.

Mi Hongdou wanted to say something, but the words caught in her throat.

Ji Junxin waited patiently.

“I’m… fine…” Mi Hongdou mumbled.

Ji Junxin smiled faintly and continued walking.

Mi Hongdou didn’t follow. Her mind was a mess, even more so now, after seeing Ji Junxin. She needed to be alone.

So, she missed the coldness in Ji Junxin’s eyes, the hardness in her gaze.

After dismissing Ji Junxin, Director Pan, seeing that the crew meals had arrived, announced a lunch break.

Pan Xiang, who had been working on her graduation thesis at the hotel, arrived on set for lunch at her grandfather’s urging. She couldn’t understand why, during the estate scenes, when there were no other options, he had insisted on her eating the crew meals with him. But now, back in Shudian, with plenty of restaurants nearby, he still insisted. It was… inhumane!

Regardless of her complaints, as long as they were in Shudian, she would usually obey and eat the crew meals.

When she arrived, she saw Director Pan eating his boxed lunch while watching something on the monitor.

As expected, without her supervision, he was being bad again. Pan Xiang sighed and walked over to him, blocking the screen. “Focus on your food, Grandpa. Grandma told you not to watch TV while eating. Next time you have a stomachache, I won’t cover for you.”

Having such an unreliable grandfather, she always had to nag him like a mother.

And this grandfather was even less obedient than a child.

Director Pan, annoyed by the sudden obstruction, waved his chopsticks. “Hey, move! I’m thinking about the editing!”

“You’re in charge of editing too?” Pan Xiang complained, reluctantly stepping aside. It wasn’t that she wanted to, but Director Pan’s waving chopsticks, with the greasy red-braised pork from his lunchbox, were threatening.

“Hmph.” He snorted, then his excitement returned, and he forgot his annoyance. “You missed two great scenes this morning! Come, take a look!” Like a child showing off a new toy, he pulled Pan Xiang over and replayed the two scenes they had just filmed.

I haven’t even eaten yet! My lunch is getting cold! How can I eat that greasy, cold red-braised pork! Your granddaughter is going to starve, do you even care! Are you even my grandpa! Pan Xiang, dragged over by Director Pan, was filled with complaints, which vanished the moment she saw the screen.

The first scene was the Empress’s suicide. As she watched, Pan Xiang felt that something was… off. Not that it deviated from the script, on the contrary, the performance was even more emotionally resonant than what she had written.

After watching Mi Hongdou’s performance, Pan Xiang felt it was brilliant, she herself, the screenwriter, was almost moved to tears, but something still felt… wrong!

Director Pan seamlessly transitioned to the next scene, Miao Qianye’s arrival.

Pan Xiang watched, her jaw dropping slightly, her eyes wide with surprise.

After the two scenes, her jaw still hadn’t returned to its normal position. Had her worst fear come true! She had written a normal script! Why did it always end up with homoerotic undertones!

“How is it? Isn’t it great! I have two ideas for editing. One, just play them sequentially. Two, intercut them, showing a bit of the Empress’s scene, then Miao Qianye’s, then back to the Empress’s, following the parallel timelines. Or, even bolder, split the screen, showing Miao Qianye rushing to the palace on one side, and the young Empress looking at the door on the other, a contrast between her urgency and the Empress’s waiting, only to miss each other in the end, how heartbreaking! And then Miao Qianye’s final, despairing cry, it would be incredibly moving!” Director Pan said excitedly, not noticing his granddaughter’s stunned silence. “So, which editing method do you think is more effective?”

Pan Xiang stared at the excited Director Pan, then rubbed her face, which had stiffened from shock, finally closing her mouth. She couldn’t imagine his expression after the film was released… He’s so clueless… she thought, then suddenly remembered, he was her grandfather, after the release, he would definitely hold her responsible! Am I going to be executed for this?!

“My script… wasn’t like this…” Pan Xiang looked at the excited Director Pan, her expression complex.

“Hmph,” Director Pan snorted. “It’s just a minor change. As the director, can’t I make a few changes? Don’t you think the result is great?”

Great… so great that even a blind person could sense the yuri undertones… and you’re even thinking about split-screen, parallel timelines, are you trying to shove it in the audience’s faces, Grandpa?! Facing the incredibly enthusiastic Director Pan, Pan Xiang weakly raised her hand. “I just want to say, those two scenes weren’t filmed according to my script.”

“Hmph!” Director Pan felt like his enthusiasm had been met with a bucket of cold water. He ignored Pan Xiang, picked up his lunchbox, and walked away.

Pan Xiang was stunned, then quickly chased after him, shouting, “Grandpa… remember! Those two scenes weren’t according to my script! Remember that when you edit the film! Grandpa… Grandpa, Grandpa!”

Grandpa, don’t go! Grandpa, listen to me! It wasn’t me! Grandpa up ahead, is this your lost granddaughter?

Chapter 109: Wait a Moment

Director Pan’s suggestion made Ji Junxin feel uneasy. So I’m the only one curious about what happened between Qiao Rubai and Mi Hongdou, and why Mi Hongdou was crying? Director Pan’s serious and urgent tone, urging her to fetch Mi Hongdou, made her feel like her curiosity was the strange one.

Urged by Director Pan, Ji Junxin slowly walked back to find Mi Hongdou. She hadn’t gone far when she saw Mi Hongdou walking towards her. And then, Ji Junxin clearly saw Mi Hongdou freeze, hesitate, and then try to avoid her, stepping aside as if to walk around her.

Although Mi Hongdou quickly corrected her course, Ji Junxin had seen her hesitation.

So you two have secrets now, not even telling me! And now one runs away, and the other tries to avoid me, what’s going on! Ji Junxin, who had been worried about them earlier, was now angry. Facing the approaching Mi Hongdou, who was trying to smile, Ji Junxin felt annoyed and couldn’t be bothered with pleasantries.

“Director Pan is looking for you,” she said coldly, then turned and walked away.

Ji Junxin’s expression was even worse than when Mi Hongdou hadn’t answered her question earlier, and Mi Hongdou didn’t dare to follow, just trailing behind her slowly as they returned to the set.

Ji Junxin had initially walked quickly, then slowed down. But Mi Hongdou still hadn’t caught up, and Ji Junxin, spoiled by Mi Hongdou’s attentiveness, was furious. She felt like, after that short conversation between Qiao Rubai and Mi Hongdou, her treatment had plummeted.

Regardless of their emotions, one angry, the other anxious, they quickly returned to Director Pan.

Director Pan wanted to reshoot Mi Hongdou’s suicide scene. He said that her earlier performance was good, but he felt that the Empress, although resolute in her decision to die for the sake of the country and the eldest prince, should also have some lingering attachment to life.

Even the most courageous, facing death, would instinctively cling to life. And the Empress’s character didn’t need to be so heroic, a more tragic portrayal would be more fitting.

Tragedy was about being forced to do what you didn’t want to do, being forced to die when you didn’t want to die.

The earlier take, although capturing the Empress’s righteousness and resolve, lacked that sense of reluctance. It was a positive portrayal, but not tragic enough. The Empress, calmly accepting her death after arranging her affairs, didn’t resonate with Miao Qianye’s later grief. Friendship wasn’t a one-sided emotion.

Director Pan didn’t ask why Mi Hongdou’s eyes were red after her private conversation with Qiao Rubai. He just said that her current state was perfect for reshooting the scene. Dying with reluctance would be more impactful than dying without any attachments.

Normally, after such a detailed explanation, Mi Hongdou would understand and deliver a perfect performance.

But now… although she understood, she didn’t want to reshoot.

After hearing about her death in her previous life from Qiao Rubai, having to film a suicide scene again, was Director Pan deliberately trying to torture her? Mi Hongdou was speechless.

She hesitated, not responding. Director Pan, thinking that he hadn’t explained clearly enough, analyzed the Empress’s psychological state before her death.

Mi Hongdou still didn’t respond, seemingly distracted.

Director Pan frowned.

Even though she was still angry at Mi Hongdou, Ji Junxin didn’t want to see her being scolded. She nudged Mi Hongdou gently. “Director Pan explained it so clearly, even I understand. Go touch up your makeup, while your eyes are still red, let’s film the suicide scene quickly, so we can continue with my scene.”

Mi Hongdou glanced at Ji Junxin. She didn’t want to “die” again in front of her.

Ji Junxin, oblivious to Mi Hongdou’s feelings, pushed her towards the makeup area.

Mi Hongdou couldn’t find a reason to refuse, and with Ji Junxin’s insistent gaze, she was pushed back onto the set.

Facing the “poisoned wine,” Mi Hongdou was no longer as calm as before.

She didn’t want to “die” again in front of Ji Junxin, looking at the wine pot, wondering if she should be grateful that the Empress died from poison, not from jumping off a cliff.

The crew was ready, but Mi Hongdou couldn’t find any inspiration. Acting? She was in no mood…

But thinking about Director Pan’s insistence on realism… if she couldn’t nail this scene in one take, he would ask for another, and another, and another. She would have to die countless times in front of Ji Junxin… Although she knew Ji Junxin understood it was just acting, she still didn’t want to repeat this scene, she couldn’t bear it.

Without the right mood or emotions, her mind still on the earlier conversation, Mi Hongdou, to avoid NGing, could only try to immerse herself in the role.

Sitting at the table, her gaze lowered, looking at the “poisoned wine,” she seemed to be in a trance.

The Empress’s suicide scene, first take, reshoot.

The young Empress sat quietly, her eyes lowered, seemingly studying the wood grain of the table, or perhaps just lost in thought. After a long moment, she slowly looked up at the wine pot and smiled faintly, a gentle smile. Then, with a decisive movement, she picked up the pot and poured a full cup of wine.

Her grip on the cup was so tight that her knuckles turned white. She brought the cup to her lips, then paused.

She looked towards the door. It was closed, no one there. But she seemed to be looking through the door, at a distant place, a distant person… Her eyes reddened, her gaze deep and melancholic.

Frozen like a statue, she seemed to be waiting, waiting for someone to open the door, waiting for someone to appear. She seemed reluctant to drink the wine, waiting for someone to stop her.

Just as she looked at the door, her expression vulnerable, almost as if she would change her mind, her gaze hardened.

The hesitation was just a fleeting moment, a final indulgence in life.

Two tears silently slid down her cheeks, and she resolutely drank the wine.

She looked at the door again.

Not with anticipation, but… with a final farewell.

Then she stood up, frowning, her lips pressed together, clutching her stomach, seemingly in pain, her back straight, and walked towards the bed.

Just before getting into bed and drawing the curtains, she looked at the door again.

Still closed.

Her eyes reddened again, her gaze filled with an unconcealed sadness and longing.

Finally, the curtains fell, and the room was silent.

Yes, silent.

Not just the set, but also the crew, watching.

A heavy, oppressive silence, as if the young Empress on screen had truly crossed the boundary between life and death. That resolute choice of death, and the lingering attachment to life, two seemingly contradictory emotions, perfectly intertwined.

So real, so real that it tugged at their heartstrings.

For a long time, no one spoke, the cameraman didn’t even stop filming.

Although the scene was over, the silence behind the curtains lingered, everyone holding their breath, wanting to pull back the curtains, yet also hesitant.

Mi Hongdou, lying on the bed, her eyes closed, thinking about her life, slowly detached from the role.

When she opened the curtains, she was surprised by the silence, a strange, almost eerie silence.

But as soon as she emerged, the crew members, who had been captivated by her performance, relaxed. It was just acting… they thought, relieved.

Director Pan, his fists clenched, his expression serious, his eyes shining, remained silent for a long moment.

He had just suggested a minor change, a slight shift in emotion, because he had noticed Mi Hongdou’s red eyes, and he hadn’t expected… such a brilliant performance!

Especially her three glances towards the door, the anticipation, the reluctance, the regret, contrasting sharply with her decisive action of drinking the poison. That bittersweet mix of longing and resignation, portrayed so vividly, it was heartbreaking.

This was the power of death, the power of tragedy, and… something more. Director Pan couldn’t articulate it, but he felt a deep emotional resonance.

This take was far superior to the previous one.

Next, it was Miao Qianye’s arrival.

The Empress’s suicide, like a gentle breeze, subtly brought the audience’s mood to a low point. And then Miao Qianye’s grief would be the catalyst, transforming the sadness into tears, the emotional climax of the film.

But… Mi Hongdou’s performance was so good that if Ji Junxin’s next scene was just technically proficient, without genuine emotion, it wouldn’t be enough, it wouldn’t be able to build on Mi Hongdou’s performance. Director Pan, after his initial elation, now frowned, his excitement replaced by worry.

Just as he was feeling frustrated, Ji Junxin, who had been silent, suddenly spoke.

“Film… film my scene,” she said, her voice slightly trembling, her gaze towards Director Pan unusually firm and eager. “Now.”

It wasn’t just Director Pan and the crew who had been moved by Mi Hongdou’s performance…

Ji Junxin, having watched the scene, her heart pounding, felt an unprecedented urge to act.

She knew, she knew what the young empress was looking at, what she was waiting for.

A voice urged her, Go, don’t make her wait, go…

Director Pan was puzzled by her sudden eagerness, but he quickly made the arrangements. It was the same set, they just needed to adjust the camera angles.

He didn’t know that Ji Junxin, watching Mi Hongdou’s performance, had already become immersed in the role. Her urgency was Miao Qianye’s urgency… Miao Qianye had seen the young empress’s waiting, and although she knew it was too late, she couldn’t bear to make her wait, not even for a second.

As the crew adjusted the cameras, Ji Junxin waited, her hands trembling.

Mi Hongdou, off-screen, didn’t go to Director Pan, but returned to her resting area.

This immersion had been incredibly draining.

The events of the day, past and present, on and off screen, life and death… Mi Hongdou felt like she had been through a wringer.

Although she knew that she was back in the past, that as long as she didn’t do any wire stunts, she wouldn’t die and wouldn’t have to see Ji Junxin’s devastation again, that with her memories, she could even protect Ji Junxin from her past hurts, like Zhang Zijing and Jiang Duo,

She was still haunted by Qiao Rubai’s story, heartbroken by what happened after her death. She needed time to process it.

Already emotionally vulnerable, the reshot suicide scene had exhausted her. Fortunately, it was her second to last scene in “Imperial Secrets.” She sat in her chair, watching the crew adjust the equipment, glad that the scene seemed to be a pass. She didn’t want to analyze her performance, her mind needed a break.

Her last scene was Miao Qianye’s arrival. She just had to play a corpse, no lines, no actions, it should be easy.

Although playing a corpse should be easy, Mi Hongdou was surprised when a crew member came to call her back to the set so soon. Didn’t they usually have a break? And adjusting the cameras always took time…

Well… it was just a corpse…

Mi Hongdou obediently lay back down on the bed.

Why the quick change? Because Ji Junxin, with an uncontainable eagerness, had been staring at the crew. Although they didn’t understand her impatience, they quickly finished setting up.

Immersion was easy for Ji Junxin, but being pulled into a role by another actor’s performance, this was a new experience, an uncontrollable surge of emotion that almost made her blood boil, burning away her reason. And detaching, as always, was difficult. After the wait, she was still completely immersed.

Her mind, her heart, filled with the image of the young empress gazing at the door.

Wait, just wait a little longer, I’m coming…

Just as Ji Junxin was almost on the verge of tears, the cameras and the crew were ready, Mi Hongdou was in position, and they could start filming.

To push past the servants blocking her way and reach the Empress’s chamber, Miao Qianye, although her eyes were red, maintained her composure and authority as a Noble Consort, her voice sharp, even pushing aside those who tried to stop her.

Tears streamed down her face, betraying the vulnerability beneath her anger.

Despite the tears, her aura was powerful, and with her high rank, second only to the Empress, she barged in.

She rushed into the Empress’s chamber, then… stopped abruptly, seeing the wine pot and the cup on the table.

Her earlier anger, her urgency, all gone.

The facade of a dignified Noble Consort vanished.

The woman who slowly approached the table was trembling.

No aura of authority, no composure, just disbelief in her eyes, tears streaming down her face, her steps faltering.

She slowly walked towards the table, as if wanting to examine the pot and the cup more closely.

But as she got closer, she stopped, closed her eyes, and turned her head away.

Opening her eyes again, she didn’t look at the table, her steps now steady, as she walked towards the curtained bed.

Her hand, as she reached for the curtain, didn’t hesitate. But upon seeing the person lying on the bed, it started trembling uncontrollably.

The light curtain swayed slightly with the trembling of her right hand.

She held the curtain with one hand and reached for the Empress’s nose with the other.

A long, long moment. Her hand didn’t move.

Finally, as if confirming the Empress’s death, Miao Qianye withdrew her hand, stood up, and let the curtain fall.

Everyone remembered the earlier takes, she should now step back and collapse, crying, by the bed.

But she didn’t…

She just stood there, releasing the curtain.

As the cameraman waited for her to step back, ready to adjust the camera angle, Ji Junxin suddenly pulled back the curtain again, her movement so swift that it startled everyone.

And then… what surprised them even more was Ji Junxin’s deviation from the script…

Miao Qianye, who had just let the curtain fall, her expression blank, suddenly bent down, pulled back the curtain with her right hand, and grabbed the front of the young empress’s clothes with her left, pulling the lifeless body slightly upwards.

Her face was a mixture of anger and grief. And then, the anger faded… leaving only… immense sorrow.

Unlike her earlier rough movements, as she gently lowered the body back onto the bed, her touch was gentle, careful…

That sorrowful tenderness was heartbreaking, even the cameraman’s eyes stung.

The young empress lay still… Miao Qianye bent down and smoothed out her rumpled clothes, folding her hands over her abdomen. Then she sat down slowly, leaned over, and rested her forehead against the folded hands.

The bed was a prop, the curtain opposite it was also a prop, and another camera was filming from inside the curtains.

By now, the curtain had fallen, and the cameraman outside assumed the scene was over.

Only the cameraman inside knew… it wasn’t… because Ji Junxin, her head bowed, was trembling slightly, as if still crying.

As the outside cameraman looked at Director Pan, waiting for instructions, a muffled, choked sob came from behind the curtains, startling him.

Chapter 108: Little Secrets

When Qiao Rubai said, “The moment she heard your name, she frowned and asked, ‘Where’s Mi Hongdou?’” Mi Hongdou, lying on the bed, listening, couldn’t help but tremble.

Qiao Rubai had felt it was unfair, someone dying and leaving others devastated, while others watched helplessly. She had been angry at Mi Hongdou’s seemingly casual attitude towards death and immersion, wanting to show her the consequences of her foolishness, to make her understand.

But now, the warmth and dampness in her palm, Mi Hongdou’s trembling, made her realize that her words had indeed hit hard. And she herself was also reliving that painful memory.

Hurting both herself and the other, what was the point? Qiao Rubai’s hand slid from Mi Hongdou’s eyes, the dampness absorbed by the blanket.

Silence.

Mi Hongdou, tears streaming down her face, opened her eyes, although she hadn’t been given permission.

“She…” Mi Hongdou tried to speak, but her voice was choked with sobs, the words barely audible.

Qiao Rubai couldn’t understand her, but she could guess.

“You had just been carried away in an ambulance, she saw it with her own eyes. But minutes later, when the police started taking statements, and your name was mentioned, she looked at me, confused, and asked where you were. I was stunned, I didn’t know if she was asking about your body, or about you, or if she even knew what she was asking. Before I could react, the officer calmly explained, ‘Are you asking about Mi Hongdou, who fell from the wires? We’ve confirmed her death, and her body has been taken away by the ambulance. As it’s an unnatural death, there will be an autopsy before the family can claim the body.’ He took her question literally and answered it.”

Qiao Rubai knew Mi Hongdou was looking at her, but she didn’t meet her gaze, instead looking through the gap in the curtains at Ji Junxin, who was still so innocent and naive in this life, and continued her story, her voice calm. “But I think… that wasn’t what she wanted to hear. She listened quietly to the officer, then, without saying a word, turned and walked away. The police were there to take statements, everyone was a witness, or rather, a suspect. She was supposed to give her statement, but she just walked away, and the officer, finding it strange, stopped her. I wanted to intervene, to explain, but before I could do anything, she looked back at the officer.”

Death was supposed to be the most impactful event. Mi Hongdou was the one who had fallen, her death horrific. But for Qiao Rubai, the most frightening moment that day had been Ji Junxin’s gaze when the officer grabbed her arm.

Qiao Rubai paused, her gaze shifting from Ji Junxin to Mi Hongdou.

“Do you know… what that look was like?” she asked, clenching her fists, the silk blanket wrinkling under the pressure.

Even with her blurry vision, unable to see Qiao Rubai’s expression clearly, Mi Hongdou could feel the heavy weight of her words. She tried to sit up, but her body was weak. Qiao Rubai, with just one finger, pushed her back down.

Mi Hongdou was forced to remain still.

“She turned around, her expression blank, her eyes empty, although looking at the officer, she didn’t seem to see anything, to feel anything. She was like a soulless doll… no, a broken, worn-out doll, about to fall apart. She looked at him with that empty gaze, and then, right in front of me… she fainted. The officer, still holding her wrist, didn’t even have time to react…” Qiao Rubai’s voice dropped, her eyes filled with an unseen fear.

Yes, fear.

That vivid memory, the scene replaying in her mind, Qiao Rubai felt like she was back there, the day Mi Hongdou died, the day Ji Junxin… broke.

Lost in her memories, Qiao Rubai fell silent.

And Mi Hongdou… if it weren’t for the tears silently streaming down her face, her still and lifeless form might have been mistaken for… death.

Ji Junxin, having waited outside the curtains, started to approach.

Qiao Rubai noticed.

She took a deep breath, pulling herself out of the painful memory, and glanced at Mi Hongdou, who seemed to have cried herself into a stupor. So, her attempt to deliver a slap in the face… had backfired.

“Hey, stop crying. Ji Junxin is coming.” Qiao Rubai nudged Mi Hongdou with her knee.

Mi Hongdou quickly wiped her face with her sleeve and sat up, peeking through the gap in the curtains.

Her vision blurred, but she could still see Ji Junxin slowly approaching.

“What… happened next…” Mi Hongdou grabbed Qiao Rubai’s knee, her gaze fixed on Ji Junxin outside.

“We went to the hospital. She was unconscious. The doctor said there was nothing physically wrong, that she probably fainted from shock, and she had a slightly sprained wrist. As for her mental state, they would have to wait until she woke up.” Qiao Rubai sighed and pulled her knee away from Mi Hongdou’s grasp. “That’s the end of the story.”

Mi Hongdou quickly grabbed her knee again. “And then?”

“And then… I arranged for the company to transfer a sum of money to your mother, along with your insurance payout, it should be enough for her to live comfortably for the rest of her life. But since we’re both back here now, that money is probably useless.” Qiao Rubai pulled her knee away again and moved towards the edge of the bed. “That’s it. We now share a secret, don’t tell anyone, you know the rules.”

To Mi Hongdou, this wasn’t the end of the story, it was just the beginning. If Qiao Rubai, like before, hadn’t acknowledged her rebirth, just hinted at it, it would have been fine. But she had said it, had… revealed those heartbreaking details… and now she wanted to leave without finishing the story? Mi Hongdou wouldn’t let her.

“Wait…” Unable to grab her knee, Mi Hongdou grabbed her sleeve. “Tell me the rest. I died, Ji Junxin was hospitalized, and then?”

Was she okay? What about my mother? …

So many things she hadn’t dared to think about since her rebirth, until today, when Qiao Rubai opened this Pandora’s box. Mi Hongdou realized that she still couldn’t let go of her past, she still wanted to know more.

Even if Qiao Rubai told her that she had been quickly forgotten after her death, Mi Hongdou still wanted to know if the people she cared about were okay. She wanted to know… was Ji Junxin okay?

But her hope was dashed.

Qiao Rubai, turning around, gently removed Mi Hongdou’s hand from her sleeve, her voice laced with displeasure. “And then? I don’t know.”

You don’t know?

Mi Hongdou was stunned, then grabbed Qiao Rubai’s clothes. “You don’t know? Why? Did something happen to Ji Junxin?” Qiao Rubai must be hiding something, Mi Hongdou’s tone accusatory.

Qiao Rubai heard the accusation. Even though she knew it was because of Mi Hongdou’s concern for Ji Junxin, she was still annoyed. Accusing me? You died and it’s my fault! And now you think I’m lying because I don’t know what happened next! You idiot! I can’t tell her about our murders yet, she’ll definitely give something away, and then I’ll alert the culprit and ruin everything!

Her earlier anger returned.

She roughly pushed Mi Hongdou’s hand away, her voice sharp. “I don’t know! Because after you died that morning, I also died that night! I even transferred money to your mother before I died! Ji Junxin was still unconscious in the hospital! You died first, so how would I know! Why don’t you just fly to heaven!”

She stormed out, leaving Mi Hongdou stunned and speechless, too shocked to even comment on Qiao Rubai’s dramatic outburst.

Although Qiao Rubai had seemed angry, Mi Hongdou instinctively felt that she wasn’t lying.

In one day… she and Qiao Rubai… both died?

Then… Ji Junxin in the hospital…

Mi Hongdou sat on the bed, the swaying curtain brushing against her face, unable to imagine Ji Junxin’s reaction when she woke up and learned about Qiao Rubai’s death.

Qiao Rubai angrily left Mi Hongdou. She knew she was just displacing her anger. She was actually angry at herself, for having rushed here to confront Mi Hongdou, only to be forced to relive that painful memory.

Her own death, Yang Lianyi’s injury, and… Ji Junxin waking up in the hospital, alone… Qiao Rubai couldn’t bear to think about it.

She was… jealous. Jealous of Mi Hongdou, who had died quickly, a fall from the wires, a brief moment of pain. Unlike her, who had been stabbed, slowly bleeding to death, watching as the person she loved took a knife for her, her fate unknown. Just a few hours apart, but Mi Hongdou’s death had been so much easier. And she hadn’t had to witness Ji Junxin’s devastation… It wasn’t fair!

Qiao Rubai left the bed, still fuming, and ran into Ji Junxin.

“What were you doing in there? For so long? What did you say to her?” Ji Junxin had been waiting anxiously. Qiao Rubai had told her not to follow, so she hadn’t, but after a while, she had started to approach, hoping to go unnoticed…

“Just… talking,” Qiao Rubai said, avoiding Ji Junxin’s gaze, her voice vague.

After telling Mi Hongdou the story, Qiao Rubai couldn’t help but think of Ji Junxin’s even greater devastation after her own death, alone and without comfort… The thought made her heart ache. And with Ji Junxin’s approach, the ache intensified. She didn’t even have the energy to look at Ji Junxin, let alone talk to her.

So, after her vague reply, and before Ji Junxin could ask any more questions, Qiao Rubai quickly said, “I… have something to do at the company, I have to leave.”

“Didn’t you just arrive? It’s a five-hour drive… You can’t drive ten hours in one day, can you? Can’t you leave tomorrow?” Ji Junxin was surprised. Qiao Rubai had been here for less than half an hour.

Ji Junxin’s concern warmed Qiao Rubai’s heart, but it also made her think of Ji Junxin in her previous life. Feeling uncomfortable, not wanting to show it, she shook her head. “It’s urgent. I have to go. I’ll visit you again next time. You know you get easily immersed in your roles. Don’t get too into character for the scene after the Empress’s suicide, it can be… problematic. Don’t listen to Director Pan, he doesn’t understand how much effort it takes for you to detach. Your earlier performance was good. If he’s not satisfied, just do a few more takes, he’ll eventually give up. Don’t sacrifice yourself for his camera, okay?”

Qiao Rubai needed some space to calm down, to bury those painful memories. She couldn’t bear to talk to Ji Junxin anymore, but she still remembered the purpose of her visit, so she gave Ji Junxin some earnest advice.

After Ji Junxin agreed, Qiao Rubai practically fled.

Mi Hongdou, stunned, sat on the bed for a minute or two, then composed herself. She had wanted to ask Qiao Rubai about her own death, but Ji Junxin told her that Qiao Rubai had already left. She ran out, only catching a glimpse of Qiao Rubai’s car disappearing in the distance.

A five-hour drive, for a visit less than half an hour long… It was unbelievable.

But Mi Hongdou knew that Qiao Rubai’s reason for leaving wasn’t the “company business” she had mentioned. She probably… couldn’t bear to look at Ji Junxin in this life, couldn’t bear to think about what happened to her in the previous one.

Mi Hongdou also couldn’t bear to think about it, so she understood Qiao Rubai’s escape.

She had almost cried herself into a stupor behind the curtains earlier, so even after composing herself, her eyes were still red.

When she came out, Ji Junxin immediately noticed, but before she could ask, Mi Hongdou asked about Qiao Rubai, and then, after Ji Junxin answered, she ran out.

Ji Junxin, worried, followed. She saw Mi Hongdou stop, staring at Qiao Rubai’s car until it disappeared, then turn around.

And then she saw Ji Junxin, standing a few steps away, looking at her thoughtfully.

Mi Hongdou, having just acknowledged Qiao Rubai as a fellow time traveler, felt a little guilty, but looking at Ji Junxin, her heart ached.

Mi Hongdou’s expression was complex, and to Ji Junxin, it was even more so. This was the first time she had seen Mi Hongdou cry… and it was clearly related to Qiao Rubai. But why?

Ji Junxin couldn’t help but ask, “What happened between you two just now?”

Mi Hongdou shook her head, her voice vague. “Nothing…”

Ji Junxin, having been brushed off by Qiao Rubai earlier, now felt brushed off by Mi Hongdou as well. She asked directly, “You were crying, and you say nothing happened?”

Mi Hongdou didn’t know how to answer. Perhaps this was another reason why Qiao Rubai had left so quickly?

Qiao Rubai, driving back, suddenly sneezed and frowned, asking the driver to close the window a little.

Ji Junxin’s direct question and Mi Hongdou’s silence, a silent refusal to answer…

Ji Junxin didn’t press further and returned to the set.

Mi Hongdou instinctively took a few steps after her, then stopped. Chasing after her wasn’t difficult, the difficulty was… she didn’t know how to answer Ji Junxin’s question. Could she say, I was crying because I was heartbroken for you, for your sadness after my death?

Of course not. So, she stopped. She needed time to think.

Ji Junxin, walking back slowly, listening for any sounds behind her, heard Mi Hongdou’s approaching footsteps and smiled slightly. But then the footsteps stopped… and Ji Junxin, pouting, quickened her pace!

My best friend and the person I like have a secret, what should I do? Urgent! Waiting online!

Ji Junxin was unhappy, but she didn’t feel she had the right to ask, so she could only return to the set, frustrated.

Director Pan beckoned her eagerly.

Well, filming might distract me, she thought and walked over.

“Hey, I saw Xiaomi’s eyes were red earlier, was she crying?” Director Pan asked anxiously.

Since when was Director Pan so gossipy… Ji Junxin hesitated under his intense gaze, then replied vaguely, “I think so. But in this scene, she just plays a corpse, she doesn’t even appear on screen, so her red eyes shouldn’t affect the filming, don’t worry.” Although annoyed about their secret, she still instinctively protected Mi Hongdou.

“Who’s worried about the filming?” Director Pan’s expression relaxed, and he pointed outside. “Go get her. I just realized, her red eyes… the Empress’s suicide scene earlier, it lacked something! If the Empress, while resolutely taking the poison, also had red eyes, a hint of reluctance, it would be perfect! Go get her, before the redness fades!”

“…” Ji Junxin looked at Director Pan, speechless. Were they all ganging up to tease her?

Chapter 107: Ice Cream Cake

Perhaps no one understood Ji Junxin’s tendency for deep immersion and her difficulty in detaching better than Qiao Rubai, her friend and manager. In her previous life, Qiao Rubai’s approach had been to reduce Ji Junxin’s workload and give her ample time to rest after each project, avoiding contact with co-stars she had shared intense scenes with, until Ji Junxin recovered and was ready for her next project.

However, her efforts hadn’t been enough, or perhaps not careful enough, which was how Jiang Duo had managed to slip in. So, in this life, with a second chance, besides removing those who shouldn’t be there, Qiao Rubai was even more cautious about Ji Junxin’s immersion.

Pan Xiang’s revised script had been approved by Qiao Rubai, so she knew about the Empress’s suicide scene. But like Director Pan now, she had also thought that this scene could elevate the emotional impact of the entire film. So, eager to finalize the script and appease the other investors, she hadn’t asked Pan Xiang to change it.

But as filming progressed, when Qiao Rubai received Ji Junxin’s late-night message about her struggles with being unreasonably angry at a friend, she realized that Ji Junxin now considered Mi Hongdou a very important friend. Or perhaps… even “very important friend” wasn’t enough to describe Mi Hongdou’s place in Ji Junxin’s heart.

Anyway, the rapid development of their friendship, in Qiao Rubai’s view, was dangerous, Ji Junxin’s feelings bordering on… combustion. Remembering the unpleasant events of her previous life, Qiao Rubai specifically inquired about the filming schedule and rushed over for the Empress’s suicide scene, to prevent Ji Junxin from getting too immersed.

Although Qiao Rubai wasn’t an actress or a director, she had years of experience in the industry, across two lifetimes. This kind of tragic scene, if the actor became too immersed, it would definitely affect their emotional state. And with Ji Junxin’s tendency for deep immersion… it was best to avoid it altogether.

And Director Pan was insistent on realism. Qiao Rubai was still trying to figure out how to persuade him to lower his expectations when Mi Hongdou offered to “die” again to help Ji Junxin get into character. And Qiao Rubai, from various clues, was almost certain that Mi Hongdou was also reborn.

Hearing Mi Hongdou’s offer, Qiao Rubai was furious!

How clueless can she be! Doesn’t she know how devastated Ji Junxin was when she died?

Consumed by anger, she had dragged Mi Hongdou to the bed, wanting to show her what Ji Junxin was like after her death in the previous life.

She had stormed in, full of anger, ready to act out the scene herself.

But although she remembered every detail of that scene, as if it were yesterday, she realized that trying to act it out was presumptuous.

She stood there for a moment, feeling a surge of anger, but no tears.

The difference between a professional and an amateur…

She desperately wanted Mi Hongdou to see how Ji Junxin was after her death! But she couldn’t just cry on command, let alone portray Ji Junxin…

Fortunately, Director Pan had called for a break, and the crew’s attention wasn’t entirely on them. But her pulling Mi Hongdou into the bedroom had been noticed by some, including the stunned Ji Junxin and the confused Director Pan.

Qiao Rubai, who had intended to showcase her “acting skills” and teach Mi Hongdou a lesson, was now embarrassed by her own impulse. She had been momentarily blinded by anger… Even though that scene was so vivid in her memory, she wasn’t an actress! And she was still angry at Mi Hongdou, even imagining Mi Hongdou dead, she couldn’t cry. Qiao Rubai stood there awkwardly.

Mi Hongdou, pushed onto the bed, remained hidden behind the curtains, silent. Ji Junxin, looking at the motionless Qiao Rubai and the still curtains, didn’t know what they were doing.

Just as she was about to approach Qiao Rubai, Qiao Rubai looked up and said, “Don’t come over yet.”

Ji Junxin stopped.

Qiao Rubai looked at Ji Junxin intently, then quickly walked to the bed where Mi Hongdou was lying.

Damn it, I’m so angry, even if I can’t cry, I still want to slap her!

Since being pushed onto the bed and having her eyes closed, Mi Hongdou had remained still, listening to Qiao Rubai’s retreating footsteps, then the long silence…

In the silence, she seemed to hear faint sounds from afar, muffled conversations, the rustling of movement. But no matter how hard she tried, she couldn’t make out the words or decipher the actions.

Mi Hongdou wondered, if a person died, and their soul lingered with a sliver of consciousness, would it be like this? Unable to see, unable to speak, only the lingering sense of hearing, a final connection to the world. She suddenly felt a pang of fear. In her previous life, after falling from the wires, if she hadn’t been reborn, but truly died, would it have been like this, lying still, straining to hear the last sounds?

And before completely fading away, whose voice would she hear? No… perhaps, hearing nothing would be better.

Qiao Rubai’s earlier unusual behavior made Mi Hongdou think she was about to tell her something. But lying there in silence, she became afraid. Did she really have the courage to hear it? She felt uneasy, wanting to get up.

Just as she was about to, she heard approaching footsteps.

The curtains were pulled back, a gust of wind chilling Mi Hongdou. The person didn’t speak, and Mi Hongdou, feeling nervous, was about to open her eyes.

A warm hand, as if anticipating her action, covered her eyes, a firm, almost rough touch.

Even without the person speaking, Mi Hongdou knew who it was from the gesture.

Qiao Rubai’s hand was firm, and Mi Hongdou gave up on escaping, lying still, no longer trying to open her eyes. The pressure on her eyes, although still there, didn’t increase.

Silence.

Qiao Rubai sat cross-legged on the bed, the curtains separating them from the outside world. She had stopped Mi Hongdou from opening her eyes and now peeked through a small gap in the curtains. Others couldn’t see inside, but she could see outside.

She wasn’t trying to tell Mi Hongdou a secret or do anything inappropriate. She just wanted to confirm one thing, then deliver a slap in the face.

“Be a quiet corpse and listen. I’ll remove my hand, but don’t open your eyes,” Qiao Rubai said, not wanting to look at Mi Hongdou.

Mi Hongdou didn’t move.

Qiao Rubai nudged her with her knee. “Speak.”

“Okay…” Mi Hongdou didn’t understand why a quiet corpse had to speak.

Qiao Rubai, having received a response, removed her hand.

She glanced outside. Ji Junxin was still standing where she had been told to stop.

“I’m asking you, if you were to die, how do you think you would die?” Having stood awkwardly outside for a while, Qiao Rubai’s mind had become clearer, and she felt she should confirm Mi Hongdou’s identity before proceeding, to avoid accidentally slapping an innocent person.

“…” Mi Hongdou guessed that Qiao Rubai was about to talk about her previous life, but she hadn’t expected such a…

This kind of conversation shouldn’t be happening in such a strange place. Qiao Rubai, who had been momentarily blinded by anger, now wanted to get it over with quickly. Seeing Mi Hongdou’s silence, she nudged her again with her knee.

Ouch! The quiet corpse felt the impact.

“Probably from falling off faulty wiring during filming, due to the company’s cost-cutting measures.” Mi Hongdou, annoyed by the knee nudge, decided to subtly criticize Qiao Rubai while confirming her identity.

Although Mi Hongdou’s answer confirmed her suspicions, Qiao Rubai was still stunned.

So it’s my fault that you died?

Qiao Rubai felt incredibly wronged! In her previous life, she had been killed while investigating Mi Hongdou’s death. And now, after being reborn, she had brought Mi Hongdou into this production early, was still trying to find out the truth about their deaths, and Mi Hongdou was blaming her?

Judging by Mi Hongdou’s resentful tone, and her own actions, which were vastly different from her previous life, Qiao Rubai was certain that Mi Hongdou already knew about her rebirth. She had suspected Mi Hongdou, but hadn’t revealed herself because she wanted to find out the truth about their deaths first. And Mi Hongdou hadn’t revealed herself because… she was resentful?

So, what had she been doing these past few months! Qiao Rubai, not understood by her fellow time traveler, felt a surge of anger.

Unbelievable! I’m going to slap her!

Qiao Rubai took a deep breath, her voice low and strained. “Let me tell you a story.”

Mi Hongdou, after her subtle jab at Qiao Rubai, had been waiting for a retort, her muscles tensed. But Qiao Rubai didn’t attack again, instead starting a story in a seemingly melancholic tone.

“Once upon a time, there was a rather unlucky person.”

Hearing the beginning, Mi Hongdou knew she was about to talk about her previous life. But then she realized that the protagonist of the story wasn’t her…

“Once upon a time, there was a rather unlucky person, let’s call her… Xiao Chi. Xiao Chi had a friend whose birthday was coming up. Being a terrible cook, she started practicing making a cake long before the birthday, even choosing a new ice cream flavor to learn.”

Qiao Rubai continued, watching with satisfaction as Mi Hongdou’s eyebrows furrowed.

“This person also had another friend, let’s call her… Boss. Xiao Chi, although showing some potential in baking, was… essentially a terrible cook, you know…”

“Can you get to the point?” Mi Hongdou couldn’t take it anymore, she opened her eyes and looked at Qiao Rubai.

Her eyes, having adjusted to the darkness, were immediately covered by a hand.

“Are you listening? If not, I’m leaving,” Qiao Rubai said, annoyed. Was she here to deliver a slap or receive one?

“I’m listening…” Mi Hongdou said, giving up. “I’ll close my eyes.”

Her compliance wasn’t rewarded. “I told you to be a quiet corpse, why are you talking!” Qiao Rubai nudged her with her knee again.

…Mi Hongdou was speechless. Should a quiet corpse talk or not? Did Qiao Rubai think she was a necromancer?

Despite her inner complaints, eager to hear the rest of the story, she obeyed.

“While learning to make the ice cream cake, Xiao Chi repeatedly asked Boss to try it. Boss, after eating so much cake, wondered why Xiao Chi was going to such lengths for a friend’s birthday. Xiao Chi said she had eaten so much of her friend’s cooking, it was time to return the favor. So, on her friend’s birthday, Xiao Chi brought the newly made ice cream cake to the set where her friend was filming. To surprise her, she texted her friend, saying she would bring the cake at noon, but she actually arrived much earlier, waiting for her friend’s wire scene to finish. She even said that since she had texted her friend that she would come at noon, her friend would be surprised to see the cake when she came down.” I also told her it was already a surprise that she came, that the text message was unnecessary. Thinking about it now, if you had really died then… at least you would have seen that message, would have known that your favorite idol, the friend you cherished, truly cared about you and wanted to celebrate your birthday. You had been her fan for so many years, and she did care about you as a friend.

As Qiao Rubai spoke, her voice became choked with emotion. She had forgotten about delivering a slap in the face, and Mi Hongdou… also seemed to be forgotten.

“We were standing there, watching as you were lifted up on the wires, and then… you fell. I don’t even remember what I was thinking then, it was all a blur. Everyone, including me, including her, we all rushed towards you. We thought you were just injured… but we didn’t expect you to fall, and we didn’t expect… the safety boxes and mats below to be… inadequate. By the time we reached you, you were… already gone. We tried CPR, but… nothing. So, we gave up, calling for an ambulance, calling the police, it was chaos. I was… in shock. I just watched her, kneeling beside you, checking your pulse again and again, pressing on your chest, her movements, initially calm and rhythmic, becoming more and more frantic, desperate. Those first aid methods probably wouldn’t have worked anyway. And someone who had been without a pulse and breath for so long wouldn’t suddenly come back to life. I knew, everyone knew, she should have known too. But she couldn’t stop, I knew she couldn’t stop, and I couldn’t stop her. I just watched as she cried silently, repeating those useless actions, trying to wake you up. Finally, someone tried to stop her, but she, usually so gentle, pushed him away, almost knocking him to the ground. She didn’t seem to want anyone’s help, she just wanted you back. I didn’t know what to do. Perhaps I thought… that her desperation… might actually create a miracle… I didn’t stop her, I stopped those who tried to stop her. Until the ambulance and the police arrived.”

Qiao Rubai felt the warmth and dampness in her palm but didn’t stop. She had come here for revenge, but now, she just wanted to tell Mi Hongdou this story, a story Mi Hongdou didn’t know in her previous life, a story about Ji Junxin and Mi Hongdou, a story from their past.

“The paramedics and the police confirmed your death. She could no longer pretend. You were carried away on a stretcher, into the ambulance. I thought she would ask to go with you, but she didn’t. She didn’t speak, didn’t move, didn’t even cry. She just knelt there, where you fell, for a long, long time, motionless. The ambulance left, and the police stayed to take statements. I was worried about her, so I helped her up. I was prepared for her to push me away, but she didn’t. She let me lead her away, even drank the water I offered her, and didn’t resist when I wiped her face. I thought she had accepted it, that she was okay. But when the police asked for her statement, her name, her relationship to you, the moment she heard your name, she frowned and asked, ‘Where’s Mi Hongdou?’”

Chapter 106: Fruit-Scented Toast

The new assistant, Zhong Yin, was a plump young woman with a round face and a cheerful smile, like the tangyuan (glutinous rice balls) eaten on New Year’s morning.

Zhong Yin was a capable and efficient assistant. When Ji Junxin wasn’t filming, she would be by her side, taking care of everything, from her clothes and bag to her makeup and costume, ensuring everything was perfect. When Ji Junxin was on set, she would watch from the sidelines, chatting with the crew. Although plump, she was pleasant-looking, with a cheerful demeanor and a sweet tongue, quickly befriending the crew members.

Mi Hongdou had known Zhong Yin in her previous life.

In her past life, Zhong Yin joined Qiong Yu about five years later, around the same time as Mi Hongdou. By then, Ji Junxin had already retired, and Zhong Yin was working with Bao Yueqiao. She had been similarly plump, her cheerful personality and sweet-talking quickly winning over the senior staff at Qiong Yu.

In her past life, Mi Hongdou had been focused on her acting career and on becoming Ji Junxin’s food buddy. She wasn’t close to Zhong Yin, or even Bao Yueqiao. It was Bai Tang who had told her about Zhong Yin. “Never judge a book by its cover” seemed to perfectly describe Zhong Yin. Despite her plump and seemingly naive appearance, many at Qiong Yu, after chatting with her, found themselves in a good mood, but realizing later that they hadn’t learned anything about Bao Yueqiao, while she had gleaned a lot of information from them. She was a wolf in sheep’s clothing. And she was so skilled that people would willingly chat with her again. At that time, Zhong Yin, working with Bao Yueqiao, handled everything efficiently, both big and small tasks, making Bao Yueqiao’s manager both happy and frustrated – happy to have less work, frustrated at being practically redundant.

Mi Hongdou observed that Qiao Rubai, having brought Zhong Yin in years earlier to be Ji Junxin’s assistant, had really put in a lot of thought. Lu Gaoshi had been fired, Shen Zhu was problematic, and Xiao Zhang… was also questionable. With no reliable assistant for so long, it seemed Qiao Rubai had been searching. A capable assistant was easy to find, a capable assistant with a clean background was difficult.

The current Zhong Yin seemed less experienced than when she first joined Qiong Yu, but her work ethic was just as meticulous and dedicated. Given time, she would definitely be a great asset to Ji Junxin.

Mi Hongdou knew that Qiao Rubai must have put in a lot of effort to find Zhong Yin so early. Combined with her experience from her previous life, she also felt that Zhong Yin was a good fit for Ji Junxin. But with Zhong Yin’s arrival, Mi Hongdou felt that her days of being Ji Junxin’s sole caregiver, their shared life, were coming to an end.

Zhong Yin was also quite tactful. Although she was Ji Junxin’s assistant, since Mi Hongdou was also living there, she would disappear whenever Ji Junxin wanted some privacy. Previously, without an assistant, Ji Junxin would have breakfast with Bai Tang and lunch and dinner with Mi Hongdou. Zhong Yin didn’t interfere, quietly eating her own meals. She was diligent, always by Ji Junxin’s side, and had a sweet tongue, but she wasn’t as clingy and fawning as Shen Zhu.

She was a good assistant.

Unfortunately, Mi Hongdou’s good impression of Zhong Yin, like a bubble, quickly burst.

Not because Zhong Yin was incompetent, on the contrary, it was because she was too competent!

As an assistant, Zhong Yin was eloquent, capable, hardworking, responsible, and even quick-witted, she was already excellent. And then, she became even better!

One afternoon, during a break in filming, Bai Tang, as usual, took out some tea and snacks for Ji Junxin. Then, Zhong Yin also took out a bag of snacks, smiling and offering them to everyone.

The snacks were simple, similar to the garlic butter toast Mi Hongdou had made before, except these were sweet buttered toast.

Sweet buttered toast was usually made by cutting toast into small squares, buttering them, sprinkling sugar on top, and baking until golden brown.

But Zhong Yin’s toast tasted different. The small, bite-sized squares were crispy but not crumbly. Besides the aroma of butter, there was also a faint fruity scent. Mi Hongdou could tell it was probably grapefruit or lemon, but if it were just fruit jam, the toast wouldn’t be so crispy. So, she guessed it must be fruit powder.

Mi Hongdou, with her culinary knowledge, could only guess. Ji Junxin, captivated by the unique flavor, asked directly. And Zhong Yin’s answer was… she had used homemade candied fruit powder instead of sugar, hence the combined aroma of butter and fruit, fragrant but not greasy. She even generously shared her homemade candied fruit.

And so… Mi Hongdou’s favorable impression of Zhong Yin, like a bubble, burst.

Two tigers can’t live on the same mountain.

With filming nearing its end, Mi Hongdou was increasingly reluctant to part with Ji Junxin. And now, there was someone who would be with Ji Junxin every day, she felt a twinge of jealousy. This person being capable was one thing, at least she could take care of Ji Junxin, but she was also a good cook!

Mi Hongdou felt that after filming wrapped, Ji Junxin wouldn’t need her anymore.

She hated overlapping skill sets!

Although slightly jealous, Mi Hongdou still felt that having someone like Zhong Yin to take care of Ji Junxin… was a good thing.

But once, when she casually asked Ji Junxin about her impression of Zhong Yin, Ji Junxin had simply replied… “She’s okay.”

Why would an almost perfect assistant only receive an “okay”? Mi Hongdou didn’t understand, but she was secretly relieved.

The reason for this, Mi Hongdou naturally didn’t know.

Ji Junxin wasn’t stupid, she could see Zhong Yin’s competence. But on Zhong Yin’s first day, Ji Junxin had shown her around the suite, complaining about the flimsy shower curtain. And then, a few hours later, Zhong Yin, somehow persuading the hotel owner, had someone remove the curtain that Mi Hongdou had painstakingly reattached with layers of tape and replace it with opaque, frosted film with an ink painting design, even adding a lock on the inside.

Wasn’t this bathroom the owner’s favorite design? Wasn’t it supposed to be transparent and sparkling? Why, when she and Mi Hongdou had asked before, it had been impossible, and now Zhong Yin had solved it so easily?

“Now you don’t have to worry about the curtain falling. And you can lock it from the inside,” Zhong Yin said thoughtfully.

What could Ji Junxin say? Could she say, I wanted the curtain to fall! I wanted to barge in!

Ji Junxin could only praise Zhong Yin’s efficiency, feeling frustrated.

Some people, no matter how good they were, their timing was just… off.

Regardless of how Zhong Yin’s arrival changed their lives, the script, with each passing day, became thinner.

Soon, only the final scenes remained.

Four years after returning to the palace, the emperor’s old injuries relapsed, and he died without leaving a will. In court, some officials, recalling the Empress’s surrender, worried that the eldest prince, raised by her, would be controlled by her, that the Ji dynasty would fall into the hands of the Qin family. So, the court was divided, some supporting the eldest prince, Miao Qianye’s son, others supporting the second prince, born to Consort Zhu (played by Jiang Duo). To ensure the eldest prince’s ascension, the Empress committed suicide.

Today’s scene was one of the most important: the Empress’s suicide, and Miao Qianye’s desperate but futile attempt to stop her.

Mi Hongdou’s suicide scene went smoothly. Drinking flat cola wasn’t pleasant, but it wasn’t terrible either, certainly better than soy sauce.

But the next scene, of Miao Qianye rushing to the Empress’s palace, only to find her dead, wasn’t so smooth.

According to the script, Miao Qianye, upon receiving the news, rushed to the Central Palace, but the curtains of the bed were drawn. As she stumbled closer, she saw a pool of blood by the bed. Her hand trembling, she slowly pulled back the curtains, revealing the Empress lying still, blood by her side, seemingly vomited after taking poison. Miao Qianye reached out, checking for a pulse, then her hand dropped, and she stumbled back, collapsing to her knees, wailing in grief.

Ji Junxin’s performance was smooth and without hesitation. But Director Pan felt something was missing.

He replayed the scene.

Her initial panicked rush, her desperate dash into the Empress’s chamber, her brief hesitation upon seeing the drawn curtains, her trembling hand as she pulled them back, these details, not explicitly written in the script, were perfectly captured. And then, seeing the dead Empress, her disbelief, her questioning, her confirmation, and finally, her grief, all matched the script. Even her final wail conveyed her deep sorrow.

Everything seemed perfect, even exceeding the script in some aspects. But Director Pan still felt something was lacking.

As the director, he had to ensure the smooth flow of the plot, the richness of details, and the emotional resonance. Having worked on this film for months, he knew the story inside and out.

Ji Junxin’s performance was good, technically flawless. But Director Pan felt that it wasn’t enough. In his opinion, this scene was a crucial plot point and also a pivotal emotional moment. He even felt that the emotional impact of this scene should surpass the earlier assumed death and the later actual death of the emperor.

Although logically, those two events should be more emotionally charged, this scene, he felt, was the true highlight of the film. Although… something still felt off. But that was his director’s intuition.

Because he valued this scene so much, Ji Junxin’s good performance wasn’t enough.

Incorrect lines, wrong movements, even inappropriate emotions, those could be easily corrected. But a “lack of something,” that was difficult for an actor to fix.

Director Pan understood this, so he didn’t say much, just that this scene was important, he wanted to film a few more takes to have more options for editing, and then, after a brief discussion with Ji Junxin, he asked her to be more… invested.

So, for the second take, Ji Junxin did put in more effort. Her panicked rush, her fear upon entering the chamber, her final grief, she amplified the emotions.

Compared to the first take, the second one was much more emotionally charged.

But Director Pan still wasn’t satisfied.

Intuition was just intuition. Feeling was just feeling. Such subjective experiences were difficult to articulate, let alone to quickly understand and improve.

Director Pan wasn’t an unreasonable director. The scene was technically fine, just not reaching his standards. Although frustrated, he wouldn’t vent his anger at the actors.

“The emotional intensity is already strong, any more, and it would be over the top,” he muttered to himself, frowning.

Then, a familiar yet somewhat distant voice came from beside him.

“What’s wrong? Isn’t this scene good?” Qiao Rubai, having just arrived from Jiang City, had walked in just as Director Pan was replaying the second take.

Director Pan, startled, turned around. It was Qiao Rubai, no wonder no one had announced her arrival.

“Yes, it’s good.” Qiao Rubai’s presence didn’t ease his frustration. “But something is missing. I thought it was the emotional intensity, but even after asking Ji Junxin to amplify it, it’s still not what I want.”

“I think it’s good.” Qiao Rubai, seeing his troubled expression, said, “This take is good enough, it’s a pass.”

Director Pan shook his head. “No.”

Qiao Rubai was speechless.

She had rushed here this morning, leaving her work in Jiang City, because of this scene, the death of the young empress. And when she arrived, the scene was already finished.

Seeing that the scene was safely and smoothly completed, she had been relieved. But after some contemplation, Director Pan had decided to reshoot.

Several takes.

Although he had said it was because the scene was important, needing more footage for editing, the repeated takes made everyone uneasy. It felt more like they were NGing.

But with the repeated takes, Director Pan started to understand what was missing.

“Xiao Ji, your emotions… they’re not genuine enough,” he said to Ji Junxin gently. “It’s not about the intensity, it’s about the genuineness. The difference between acting and truly feeling it, do you understand?”

Ji Junxin nodded.

He loved actors who were perceptive and obedient! Director Pan suppressed his impatience and continued patiently, “So, for the next take, imagine you’re really Miao Qianye, losing the young empress, who has been your companion and support, truly feel it, don’t just act, be more immersed.”

Although he had taken Ji Junxin aside, Qiao Rubai, worried, and Mi Hongdou, also concerned, had followed.

Hearing this, Qiao Rubai couldn’t help but interrupt. “She’s an actress, isn’t acting enough? Why does it have to be real?”

Director Pan wasn’t offended, he just explained, “If this entire film had been just acting, then I wouldn’t ask for genuineness in this particular scene. The point is, in this film, Ji Junxin, Xiaomi, even Jiang Lingling, their performances, both in the palace and the estate scenes, were driven by genuine emotions, not just acting. So, there’s no reason for this crucial scene to be any different. Whether this film can reach its full potential depends on this scene.”

As a renowned director, his words carried weight, and Qiao Rubai couldn’t refute them.

Seeing the tense atmosphere, Mi Hongdou, worried about Ji Junxin’s state after so many takes, gently tugged at Ji Junxin’s sleeve and said half-jokingly, “It’s okay, if he wants genuineness, I’ll drink some flat cola in front of you, then lie down and pretend to be poisoned. Just imagine I’m really dead, see if that helps you get into character.”

Mi Hongdou’s words were partly to lighten the mood, partly to help Ji Junxin meet Director Pan’s requirements. After all, emotionally charged scenes, repeated takes were exhausting, and the more they filmed, the worse the performance might become.

Mi Hongdou’s well-intentioned words, however, were like a spark to Qiao Rubai, who had specifically come for this scene.

“Oh, really?” Qiao Rubai sneered, putting her hand on Mi Hongdou’s shoulder. “Come, let me show you what ‘genuine’ means.”

She pulled Mi Hongdou towards the bed where she had just been lying down.

Ji Junxin, sensing something was wrong, followed, about to say something to Qiao Rubai.

But Qiao Rubai, as if she had eyes on the back of her head, quickly turned around. “Stay there, don’t come any closer.”

Her tone was sharp and unquestionable. Qiao Rubai had never spoken to Ji Junxin like this before, and Ji Junxin, stunned, stopped, and Qiao Rubai pulled Mi Hongdou further away.

Seeing that Qiao Rubai wasn’t doing anything to Mi Hongdou, just having her lie down on the bed where she had played dead earlier, Ji Junxin didn’t follow.

“Lie down,” Qiao Rubai said, pressing Mi Hongdou onto the bed.

“You…” Mi Hongdou looked at Qiao Rubai, confused. What was she doing?

“You want genuineness? Let me show you. Let me see… how dare you… how dare you make her act like you’re really dead.” Out of Ji Junxin’s sight and earshot, Qiao Rubai’s whispered words were laced with barely suppressed anger, her voice even slightly trembling.

Qiao Rubai’s words were cryptic and pointed. Mi Hongdou’s heart pounded, and she was stunned. So Qiao Rubai, seeing her dazed state, pushed her onto the bed and even closed her eyes.

In the darkness, Mi Hongdou listened to Qiao Rubai’s retreating footsteps.

Qiao Rubai left, and although Mi Hongdou could get up, she didn’t…

She seemed to understand what Qiao Rubai was trying to tell her.

Chapter 105: Pan-Fried Shepherd’s Purse Dumplings p2

Foodie Ji Junxin surrendered.

Having surrendered, she naturally couldn’t leave. After lunch came dinner, and after dinner came late-night snacks…

After the snacks, it was finally time to leave.

“Not staying over?” Mi’s mother looked disappointed. “Stay, we’ll have porridge tomorrow morning, and I’ll buy some pastries. There’s a shop nearby that sells delicious, crispy flatbreads, with shredded radish filling, pickled mustard greens filling, preserved greens filling, and…”

“Mom… Ji Junxin hasn’t been home in a long time either.” Mi Hongdou had to interrupt. She had just wanted to bring Ji Junxin back to Jiang City, and now her mother was trying to keep her overnight. Although her mother’s hospitality was commendable, she only had one bed! Sleeping with Ji Junxin, would she go crazy! And… Ji Junxin also had parents! And Mom, your daughter is right here, did you even look at her today? Did you mistake someone else for your daughter?

Mi Hongdou’s words interrupted Mi’s mother’s menu recital and also Ji Junxin’s wavering resolve.

So, despite Mi’s mother’s reluctance, Ji Junxin left.

Mi’s mother, unhappy, went upstairs and pointed at the kitchen. “Go wash the dishes.”

“I’ll do them tomorrow…” Mi Hongdou, also full, collapsed onto the sofa.

“Wash them now, the oil will congeal overnight.”

Mi Hongdou was heartbroken. “Mom, I haven’t been home in months, can’t I rest for a day before washing dishes?”

Mi’s mother snorted. “I haven’t asked you to wash dishes in months, what’s the big deal?”

“…Nothing.” Mi Hongdou resignedly got up. “Anyone would think Ji Junxin is your daughter.”

This comment hit a nerve. “Hmph, if it weren’t for you telling her to go home, we could have had breakfast together tomorrow.” She snorted again. “You sent her away, how else can I vent my frustration but by making you wash the dishes?”

So that was the reason… Mi Hongdou was stunned. “She has her own parents! It’s just a two-day break, how can she stay here the whole time? We have to go back to Shudian tomorrow afternoon!”

Mi’s mother paused. “Are you going together tomorrow? Is she coming?”

“Mom!” Mi Hongdou raised her voice. “Even if you’re Ji Junxin’s fan, can you please restrain yourself? You’ll scare her!”

Mi’s mother was taken aback, then retorted, “Who said I’m her fan! I just think she’s a beautiful, adorable, and talented young lady… unlike you, hmph!”

Mi Hongdou, having revealed her own secret, was about to regret it when she was attacked, so she retorted, “Aren’t you? Where’s that autographed poster you got for Old Wang or Old Li’s daughter? Did you give it away?”

“You…” The hidden fan, exposed and embarrassed, said angrily, “Hmph! I am a fan, so what! I don’t have to explain myself to you! You’re so unlovable! Why weren’t you born a boy? Then I could at least hope for you to bring her home as my daughter-in-law! Hmph!” She stormed off to her room.

Although they depended on each other, Mi Hongdou and her mother weren’t particularly close. They rarely had such long, heartfelt conversations. Usually, Mi’s mother watched TV in the living room, while Mi Hongdou stayed in her room. It had been a long time since Mi Hongdou had seen her mother so happy.

Mi Hongdou stood there for a long time, then whispered, “Yes, why wasn’t I born a boy?” Then she could openly pursue Ji Junxin. But she still preferred being a woman. It was difficult…

It wasn’t just Mi Hongdou who found things difficult. Ji Junxin, in the chauffeured car, after much hesitation, called her parents. It was late, and they were both home. But before she could say much, her father brought up the blind date again. So Ji Junxin, having just experienced Mi’s mother’s warmth and missing her own parents, chatted with them for a bit, then decided to return to her own apartment.

After getting out of the car, she was alone again. Although it was March, and the coldest part of winter was over, standing in the wind, she felt even colder than during the estate scenes.

Her apartment, empty for three months, was still relatively clean. Just changing the bedsheets, dusting, and mopping, and it would be livable. As she worked, Ji Junxin was glad that she had emptied the refrigerator and removed the fruits before leaving, otherwise, the place would be uninhabitable.

The one-bedroom apartment was quick to clean. But after showering and settling in bed, Ji Junxin felt the usually cozy apartment strangely cold and empty.

She had become used to Mi Hongdou’s presence.

Ji Junxin sighed and closed her eyes, trying to sleep.

But she felt cold, lonely, and a little scared… Unable to sleep, she sat up and turned on the light.

No warm hot water bottle…

If she had stayed at Mi Hongdou’s place, she wouldn’t be so miserable… and there would be delicious porridge and flatbreads for breakfast tomorrow… Mi Hongdou was the worst!

Mi Hongdou, who was being blamed by her mother for washing a mountain of dishes and finally getting to rest very late, had no idea that her one comment had earned her the resentment of two people.

And there were many things she didn’t know, like how, upon returning to Shudian, the new palace scenes wouldn’t be as easy to film as they had imagined.

In the early palace scenes, Empress Qin Muxue and Miao Qianye, after the empress let go of her attachment to the emperor, had developed a sense of camaraderie. This bond deepened during their time at the estate, united in their shared goal of protecting the heir. But upon returning to the palace, things changed.

Emperor Ji Yan had many women, but his true love was still Empress Qin Muxue. Many of the concubines who had been with them at the estate died during their escape. The survivors, returning to the palace with the victorious emperor, were all promoted. But the emperor only spent the night with the Empress, not even with Miao Qianye, who had borne him a son. The promoted concubines were practically widows. Still, life in the palace was better than toiling in the fields. Many accepted their fate. Of course, some still yearned for the emperor’s favor, like Concubine Zhu, played by Jiang Duo. But although he rewarded them, he didn’t favor them. It wasn’t until the Empress persuaded him that he finally visited Miao Qianye, and then, to avoid resentment from the others, he also visited a few other concubines who had been with them at the estate.

The plot itself wasn’t unusual. But Director Pan didn’t understand a note Pan Xiang had added to the script: why, after their escape and reunion with the emperor, was there a subtle awkwardness and distance between the Empress and Miao Qianye? The note even specified that this feeling should persist until the Empress’s death at the end.

Director Pan couldn’t understand. They had developed such a close bond at the estate, practically sisters, why this awkwardness now? Hadn’t the Empress let go of her attachment to the emperor? He felt the note was unnecessary and discussed it with Pan Xiang.

Pan Xiang found it awkward to discuss this kind of plot point with her grandfather, but she explained it nonetheless.

At the estate, without the emperor, they had shared goals and values, and the hardship had strengthened their bond. But now, back in the palace, their positions were different, they were sharing a man. One favored, the other not, it was awkward. And the favored one persuading the emperor to also favor the other, even more awkward. And not just awkward, but also… unhappy. They had gained the emperor, but lost the intimacy and mutual support they had shared at the estate.

Pan Xiang’s explanation made Director Pan understand. He even found it brilliant. If Mi Hongdou and Ji Junxin could portray this awkwardness and conflict, these scenes would be very compelling. He felt a slight unease, something still felt off, but excited by the new plot development, he ignored it.

Since the estate scenes, although there were occasional disagreements between them, Mi Hongdou and Ji Junxin’s relationship had deepened, which was why their performances during that arc had been so smooth. Now, back in the palace, having to act with a subtle awkwardness in their scenes together, even in group scenes, was a challenge.

When facing difficulties in acting, there were two common methods: immersion and empathy.

Immersion meant becoming the character, experiencing their awkwardness. But the thought of having to portray the awkwardness of sharing a husband was… awkward.

Empathy meant recalling your own most embarrassing moments and using those emotions. For Mi Hongdou, her most embarrassing moment, in both lifetimes, was probably the bathroom incident a few days ago. She couldn’t think about it during filming without blushing. As for Ji Junxin… it was also that scene, but instead of blushing, she would probably feel a surge of heat.

So, for this pervasive awkwardness in the palace scenes, they couldn’t use immersion or empathy, they could only rely on their acting skills. Fortunately, they were both talented and experienced, and although their performance didn’t quite reach Director Pan’s vision of “perfect awkwardness,” it was still quite good.

Time passed quickly. Another month, and the palace scenes, without many of Jiang Duo’s scenes, progressed smoothly. “Imperial Secrets,” originally scheduled to wrap up at the end of April, was now nearing completion in mid-March.

No longer needing to act awkward, Mi Hongdou was relieved. But the thought of no longer sharing a room with Ji Junxin after filming ended filled her with a sense of loss.

So, as filming drew to a close, Mi Hongdou spent even more time preparing food and drinks for Ji Junxin, not just their daily meals, but also various fruit teas and snacks.

Although Jiang Lingling also enjoyed these treats, they weren’t made for her. So, the poor single dog’s desire for a relationship intensified. It was April, she had to find someone before Singles’ Day.

But finding a partner wasn’t that easy. Jiang Lingling, often staring wistfully at the snacks from Mi Hongdou, earned many sympathetic glances from Pan Xiang.

Jiang Lingling had also considered whether she had feelings for her favorite author, but it seemed a bit far-fetched. She loved the author’s stories, but it was the writing she loved, not the person. She liked the author, but… love? It didn’t seem that intense.

Unable to figure it out, Jiang Lingling temporarily put the thought aside, continuing to hire people to get the first comment on her stories, still a devoted fan.

After returning to the palace set, Jiang Lingling’s scenes decreased significantly. She could no longer use the excuse of script revisions to torment Jiang Duo, and she was bored. So, she had more time to read, and sometimes, she even managed to get the first comment herself. Getting it herself was more satisfying than having someone else remind her.

Perhaps, without a partner, having this… spiritual anchor, this daily ritual, wasn’t so bad. At least she didn’t feel so lonely.

As filming neared its end, Ji Junxin felt a sense of… a countdown, dreading each passing day, wanting time to slow down. She would soon be alone again. Although she knew they would still be friends after the film, it wouldn’t be the same. Leaving this production, this shared life, things would change. Even if they had the opportunity to work together again, they wouldn’t be living together, sharing every day and night.

Ji Junxin’s sadness couldn’t be dispelled even by Mi Hongdou’s culinary creations.

Just as Ji Junxin was dreading the end of filming, Qiao Rubai, rubbing salt in the wound, sent her a new assistant…

Chapter 105: Pan-Fried Shepherd’s Purse Dumplings p1

When Ji Junxin woke up, the room was dark, only a faint light emanating from Mi Hongdou’s bed. She fumbled for her phone, the screen showing it was past 10 PM. Her mind was hazy, the events in the bathroom earlier, were they a dream? The kind of dream you have in spring?

“Awake?”

Mi Hongdou’s sudden voice startled Ji Junxin, her hand trembling, and her phone fell back onto the bed, plunging her into darkness again.

“Mmm…” she mumbled, retrieving her phone. The shock had woken her up, so it hadn’t been a dream after all.

“Hungry?” Mi Hongdou asked.

“Hungry…” Ji Junxin instinctively replied, then instantly regretted it. Oh my god, I cried again earlier, are my eyes puffy? What if Mi Hongdou turns on the light and sees them! She quickly burrowed under the covers.

A rustling sound from the other bed. “Then I’ll make dumplings, you can get up later.” Mi Hongdou’s voice faded with her retreating footsteps.

Ji Junxin cautiously peeked out from under the covers. Still dark, she was relieved, and stuck her head out.

With Mi Hongdou gone, Ji Junxin turned on the light, used her phone as a mirror, and checked her face. Her eyes seemed fine, just a little dry, probably because she had slept for a while.

After applying eye drops, Ji Junxin decided to follow Mi Hongdou’s advice and stay in bed for a little longer.

In the kitchen, Mi Hongdou mixed the minced pork and chopped shepherd’s purse, added an egg white, ginger, scallions, garlic, and other seasonings, and slowly stirred it clockwise until the mixture became sticky.

When Mi Hongdou started wrapping the dumplings, Ji Junxin came out, as usual, wandered into the kitchen, then went to the sofa and waited. Mi Hongdou, while wrapping, glanced at Ji Junxin, who was playing with her phone, seemingly normal, and felt relieved.

Ji Junxin had fallen asleep, but Mi Hongdou, after lying in bed for a while, couldn’t sleep. She got up, found some double-sided tape, and reattached the shower curtain. Although it didn’t seem very secure, it should last the night.

Back in bed, she still couldn’t sleep, her mind replaying the bathroom incident. It was frustrating. To Ji Junxin, it had just been a playful joke, but to Mi Hongdou, who had been seen naked and even bitten by the person she liked… it was both embarrassing and strangely exciting.

Having lived two lifetimes, even with her limited romantic experience, she knew… she had been aroused when Ji Junxin bit and licked her. That strange sensation, caused by Ji Junxin, wasn’t unpleasant, she even felt a lingering… longing.

But… it was wrong. Ji Junxin was straight! Her past relationship with Zhang Zijing was proof! Mi Hongdou wouldn’t let that scumbag near Ji Junxin in this life, but she also couldn’t confess her feelings to a straight girl. Ji Junxin deserved better, and her own arousal from Ji Junxin’s unintentional actions made her feel… like a predator…

Although Ji Junxin had been the one teasing her, Mi Hongdou felt guilty.

Seeing that Ji Junxin didn’t mention the bathroom incident after waking up, Mi Hongdou was relieved.

Ji Junxin naturally wouldn’t mention it. She had seen the reattached curtain.

It was just an accident, what was there to expect? … She rubbed her slightly sore eyes, suppressing her inappropriate fantasies.

Mi Hongdou had originally planned to boil the dumplings, not wanting to deal with the oil and smoke after showering. But feeling guilty, she decided to pan-fry them instead.

She heated the wok, oiled it, added the dumplings and water, and turned on the heat… Pan-fried dumplings were easy to make, but achieving the perfect crispy skin and tender filling required precise control of the heat and the amount of water.

Of course, it was no problem for Mi Hongdou. Soon, the aroma of frying filled the room.

Ji Junxin sniffed the air. Although still sad, she felt a little happier.

The shepherd’s purse and pork dumplings, thin-skinned and generously filled, after frying, the top skin tightened, the bottom crispy, their golden-brown color incredibly appetizing.

Ji Junxin carefully picked one up, blew on it, and took a small bite. A burst of hot steam, carrying the unique aroma of shepherd’s purse, filled her mouth. Tilting the dumpling slightly, she tasted the hot, savory juices, making her anticipate the next bite.

The dumpling skin, firm and slightly crispy, the filling with the perfect ratio of meat and vegetables, juicy and flavorful, chewy but not tough, it was incredibly delicious.

Normally, dumplings with the same filling, when boiled, would have a lighter flavor, refreshing and easy to eat in large quantities. Steamed dumplings would be slightly saltier, the flavors more concentrated, the skin chewier. And pan-fried dumplings were the most aromatic and flavorful of the three. Similar in size to steamed dumplings, the skin both chewy and crispy, richer in both flavor and texture, although slightly greasy, and you couldn’t eat too many.

Of course, that was… under normal circumstances.

The pan wasn’t large, only holding twenty dumplings at a time. Mi Hongdou had made forty, planning to fry two batches, Ji Junxin eating most of them, and herself having a dozen or so.

Perhaps because it was a late dinner, Ji Junxin ate with focused attention, picking up, blowing on, and eating one dumpling after another, her movements smooth and efficient, even accelerating slightly. Mi Hongdou, seeing this, made another twenty while waiting for the second batch to finish frying.

Although the meal was long, it was quiet. After three batches of dumplings, they only chatted briefly about what happened on set today, mostly eating in silence. Mi Hongdou felt the atmosphere was different, a little strange, but seeing Ji Junxin seemingly enjoying the food, she figured she was just overthinking, perhaps Ji Junxin was just tired after her nap and not as lively as usual.

Actually… that wasn’t the case…

The warm, delicious dumplings did comfort Ji Junxin. After a few, although her heart still ached, she felt a little better. The power of food… She devoured more than two plates of dumplings, feeling incredibly full.

Even for Ji Junxin, this was more than her usual amount. Although she enjoyed the meal, she felt uncomfortable later.

They had woken up around 10 PM and finished eating close to midnight. They had an early call time for the last day of the escape scenes, so they quickly washed up and went to bed.

With the lights off, and Mi Hongdou’s phone also dark, the bedroom was quiet and dark, perfect for sleeping. But Ji Junxin tossed and turned, unable to sleep. Her earlier nap was one reason, overeating was another. And the third reason, comforted by the food, she finally had the courage and the time to process the afternoon’s events.

To be precise, whenever she closed her eyes, she saw the image of a naked Mi Hongdou.

Perhaps because of the darkness, Ji Junxin no longer suppressed her thoughts, indulging in them, replaying every detail of the scene that afternoon. Perhaps it was the greasy dumplings, a full stomach breeds lustful thoughts?

Standing, lying down, kneeling… the damp hair, the smooth skin, the delicate collarbones, the partially exposed breasts, and further down… Ji Junxin remembered Mi Hongdou on the floor, clutching the towel, the small movements of her hand beneath it…

The familiar heat, fueled by her imagination, spread through her. And the image of Mi Hongdou became clearer, more vivid…

The bed was warm, the hot water bottle Mi Hongdou had thoughtfully refilled radiating heat, adding to her internal fire, making her uncomfortable. She closed her eyes, but all she saw was Mi Hongdou on the bathroom floor, tugging at the towel. Ji Junxin fidgeted restlessly…

In the darkness, her legs pressed together, her fingers nervously clutching the edge of her nightgown, her teeth biting her lower lip, her expression strained, her thoughts racing. She imagined herself opening the bathroom door, walking towards the fallen Mi Hongdou, pulling away the towel, removing her hand, and then… She imagined herself opening the door, walking towards the kneeling Mi Hongdou, letting her approach, that position, the places she could touch, similar to the birthing scene, no… not just touching…

The chaotic thoughts and the burning sensation gradually subsided. Ji Junxin’s indulgence in her fantasies only made her more uncomfortable.

Mi Hongdou, you’re the worst! Ji Junxin bit her lip and angrily kicked the hot water bottle.

The only result was a burning sensation on her foot, not any relief.

The night was long, and Ji Junxin finally drifted off to sleep, her mind filled with frustrated thoughts of Mi Hongdou. Her last thought before falling asleep was… after reacting like that today, am I still a qualified neko?

Under the cover of darkness, we often indulge our desires. And when dawn arrives, it brings back the rationality we abandoned.

Both the sunlight and the hustle and bustle of the film set revitalized Ji Junxin. Last night’s fantasies seemed like a distant dream, and her interactions with Mi Hongdou returned to normal. Well, a deliberately constructed normalcy, but still…

The next day’s escape scenes were successfully completed, but there was no celebration. For most of the actors from the estate scenes, their part in “Imperial Secrets” was over, including Ye Xin and Hao Ba from Mengguan. After the last scene, the crew had a small farewell dinner, and the next day, many of the rooms in the hotel were occupied by new faces, the next batch of palace maids.

For Ji Junxin and Mi Hongdou, the changes in the crew didn’t affect them much. After the escape scenes, before returning to the palace, they, along with the surviving concubines, had to go to the battlefield set and film a few scenes of their reunion with the emperor and their return to the palace with his army.

They didn’t have many lines in these scenes, just a few at the beginning, during their reunion with the emperor, and then just a few shots in the background of the battle scenes.

This took a few days.

Having been tormented by Jiang Duo’s NGs during the two months of filming at the estate, the crew seemed to have forgotten about Zhang Zijing’s own tendency for NGs. The scenes went smoothly without Jiang Duo, and many no longer resented Zhang Zijing. Except, of course, Mi Hongdou.

Zhang Zijing, as if having undergone a personality change, had become cheerful and approachable. He was good-looking, and now, without his usual bad temper, he quickly became popular with the girls in the crew. Although he hadn’t made any obvious moves on Ji Junxin yet, Mi Hongdou still felt a sense of unease.

Logically, the best defense was offense. If she was worried about Ji Junxin getting together with Zhang Zijing again, she should find a suitable boyfriend for Ji Junxin. Mi Hongdou knew this… but she couldn’t bring herself to do it. She wanted Ji Junxin to find someone better, but she also wanted to keep her by her side.

The more you loved someone, the more you wanted them to be happy, but you also couldn’t be completely selfless, couldn’t just push them towards someone else, even if it meant their happiness…

Mi Hongdou, despising her own selfishness while also guarding against Zhang Zijing, was exhausted after a few days of filming at the battlefield set.

After the battlefield scenes, they returned to the palace set in Shudian. Considering they had been working non-stop for over three months, and the palace set needed to be rearranged, the crew was given a two-day break.

Mi Hongdou hadn’t been home in over three months, even spending New Year’s Eve at Jiang Lingling’s restaurant. Now, with a break, she was naturally going back to Jiang City.

Ji Junxin hesitated. Her father had called a few days ago, first lecturing her about the hardships of being an actress and the benefits of being a teacher, then subtly mentioning a young doctor from a scholarly family, whose parents were also teachers, a decent and good-looking young man. He asked if she wanted to meet him when she returned.

“Meet,” wasn’t that just a blind date? … Ji Junxin was surprised. She had thought her parents didn’t care about anything besides their teaching careers. So, they did care about her marriage? She was already struggling with her feelings for Mi Hongdou, how could she deal with a blind date? But… facing her parents’ rare display of concern, she couldn’t refuse directly, so she used the excuse of being busy with filming. Her father, naturally, launched into another lecture about her career choice, urging her to become a teacher.

And now, after just a few days, she had a break.

She couldn’t go back to her parents’ place, only to her small, empty apartment, what was the point? Ji Junxin didn’t want to go back.

But when Mi Hongdou learned that Zhang Zijing was also staying on set during the break, she insisted on taking Ji Junxin with her. Two days, she couldn’t leave Ji Junxin alone with Zhang Zijing. What if he used his sweet words to seduce her? She would regret it forever.

So, Mi Hongdou enthusiastically praised her mother’s cooking and sincerely invited Ji Junxin, successfully taking her back to Jiang City.

Ji Junxin felt a little embarrassed about imposing on them for a meal, but Mi Hongdou’s detailed descriptions of the dishes, from their aroma and texture to their taste, from the ingredients to the sauces, made it sound irresistible. And she didn’t want to be apart from Mi Hongdou either. Traveling together, and then having a meal at Mi Hongdou’s place, meant more time together than staying alone at the hotel. So, she readily agreed.

As promised months ago, Ji Junxin brought delicious meatballs from Shudian as a gift for Mi’s mother, who welcomed her warmly.

Leaving Shudian in the morning, they arrived at Mi Hongdou’s place just in time for lunch. A home-cooked meal, naturally, couldn’t compare to Jiang Lingling’s daily feasts. But Mi’s mother’s cooking was also far from ordinary.

Braised mutton with cabbage and vermicelli, a simmering pot of beef with enoki mushrooms in bone broth, sweet and sour spare ribs sprinkled with sesame seeds, a whole five-spice chicken and a pile of braised quail eggs, a clay pot of pork bone and radish soup in the center of the table, and two vegetarian dishes: stir-fried bok choy with mushrooms and bamboo shoots, and sauteed king oyster mushrooms with bacon and butter.

While Mi’s mother went to put away the meatballs, Ji Junxin tugged at Mi Hongdou’s sleeve, her face slightly red. “This is too much food, I’m so embarrassed,” she whispered.

Before Mi Hongdou could comfort the seemingly apprehensive Ji Junxin, Mi’s mother returned with a large plate.

“Why are you standing? Come, sit and eat!” She waved them over and squeezed the plate onto the only empty spot on the table. It was a plate of fried small yellow croaker, neatly arranged, still steaming, surrounded by butterflied, fried shrimp, sprinkled with spices.

The aroma of the dishes filled the air, a comforting, homey scent.

This meal… must have taken hours to prepare. Ji Junxin, feeling embarrassed, hesitantly picked up her chopsticks.

The bok choy, crisp and tender, the bamboo shoots fresh and flavorful, the mushrooms plump and not salty, it was delicious! Ji Junxin’s eyes narrowed slightly, a small, unconscious gesture she always made when enjoying food.

Although it was a small gesture, Mi Hongdou was very familiar with it. Ji Junxin liking her mother’s cooking was wonderful. But… why did Ji Junxin, three times in a row, only take small portions of the stir-fried bok choy with mushrooms and bamboo shoots?

“You’re so thin… don’t just eat vegetables. It’s okay to have some meat, you won’t gain weight,” Mi’s mother said, swapping the vegetable dish with the fried yellow croaker.

Having closely observed her idol, and seeing that Ji Junxin had only eaten vegetables, Mama Fan was worried.

Gain weight? What’s that? Ji Junxin, who never gained weight no matter how much she ate, didn’t understand the concept.

The fried yellow croaker was now closer, its aroma even more enticing. Ji Junxin took a small fish and ate it.

Crispy! Fragrant! Tender! So much better than the ones at the buffet!

The fish was slightly hot, but not too hot to eat. The batter was fragrant and not too salty, the fish crispy on the outside, tender on the inside, even the bones were edible. The heads had been removed, and the tails were crispy, so Ji Junxin ate the entire fish, bones and all.

One led to another, and encouraged by Mi’s mother’s smile, Ji Junxin ate quite a few.

Delicious food, instead of filling you up, only whetted your appetite. Although she wanted to be more reserved, Ji Junxin gradually shed her embarrassment and indulged in the feast.

Perhaps because Ji Junxin’s first few bites were all vegetables, or perhaps because she ate the small yellow croaker so slowly and delicately, even the tails, or perhaps because Mi’s mother often read gossip news about celebrities who only ate vegetables to stay slim, she now looked at Ji Junxin with concern and kept urging her to eat more, to try different dishes, to have some soup…

Mi Hongdou, at first, found it a bit awkward. Ji Junxin could devour over forty pan-fried dumplings in one sitting, could her mother please not look at her with such pity, as if she was a starving child who hadn’t eaten meat in years? And… wouldn’t it make Ji Junxin feel even more embarrassed?

But Ji Junxin didn’t seem embarrassed at all, she even seemed to enjoy Mi’s mother’s nagging. She ate whatever Mi’s mother offered, her movements still refined, but her speed not at all slow.

Soon, Mi Hongdou felt like the odd one out at the table… with one busy talking and the other busy eating, who had time for her?

Why did she always feel superfluous whenever Ji Junxin was around?

The lunch lasted for over an hour. Mi’s mother was happy, Ji Junxin was full. As for Mi Hongdou… who cared about her?

After lunch and some chatting with Mi’s mother, Ji Junxin felt she should leave, after all, Mi Hongdou hadn’t been home in a long time, they needed some mother-daughter time.

Just as she was about to excuse herself, Mi’s mother looked surprised. “Not staying for dinner? You brought those delicious meatballs, I was planning to make three delicacies soup with them tonight. Meatballs with quail eggs, bamboo shoots, yellow chives, tofu skin, and wood ear mushrooms, and some egg dumplings, it’s so delicious. You have to stay and try it. I also bought a black fish, we can make boiled fish, or do you prefer boiled pork slices? I think both are good, with some Sichuan peppercorns… the aroma would fill the entire room! I have other ingredients in the refrigerator, tell me what you want, and I’ll make them all!”

Mi’s mother’s enthusiastic invitation, listing dishes, made Ji Junxin speechless… so this tactic was hereditary!

Chapter 104: It’s All Your Fault

Ji Junxin’s bite was sudden, taking Mi Hongdou completely by surprise.

Mi Hongdou didn’t even have time to react. The pain in her right shoulder was dull, not sharp, suggesting a gentle bite. But Ji Junxin’s warm breath against her bare skin sent shivers down her spine. Mi Hongdou’s mind went blank, all thoughts erased, only the burning sensation on her shoulder where Ji Junxin’s breath had touched remained.

Being bitten was an accident, not pulling away immediately was Mi Hongdou’s hesitation.

If she moved suddenly, would she hurt Ji Junxin’s teeth? This strange thought prevented her instinctive reaction to escape. She didn’t even realize that if she pulled away, hurting Ji Junxin’s teeth was one thing, she, whose flesh was being bitten, would be the one in pain.

Ji Junxin’s bite was swift, but then she slowed down, her teeth gently pressing into the flesh. The slow, gentle pressure didn’t cause much pain, just a strange tingling sensation.

Her shoulder was on fire, her body was on fire, even her mind was ablaze.

She couldn’t tell if the heat was from her own embarrassment or from Ji Junxin’s warmth. But she didn’t have to figure it out.

Ji Junxin’s teeth pressed gently, and then… Mi Hongdou felt something soft and warm, like the flesh of a shellfish, brush against the bitten spot…

In this position, what that soft, warm thing was, Mi Hongdou knew without a doubt.

Her body tensed, and then, as if fireworks exploded in her mind, the tingling on her shoulder was replaced by the sensation of being licked. Mi Hongdou’s last thought before her mind completely shut down was: Idiot! Don’t you know you’re supposed to retract your tongue when biting someone! You just licked me!

How long did it last? A mind in shutdown… couldn’t tell time. All Mi Hongdou knew was that it wasn’t until Ji Junxin released her and took a step back that she regained her scattered wits. Her stiff body didn’t want to remember how long she had been frozen…

Her mind rebooting slowly, still struggling to form a coherent response, she was hit by Ji Junxin’s “symmetry is beauty” statement.

Mi Hongdou’s body was still burning, her mind still hazy, but even so, she couldn’t agree with Ji Junxin!

Symmetry was beautiful, but Ji Junxin’s bite couldn’t possibly be symmetrical!

Mi Hongdou stiffly turned her neck to the right. Sure enough, there were two rows of teeth marks on her right shoulder. Although roughly in the same location as the scar on her left shoulder, it wasn’t symmetrical at all!

If Ji Junxin’s expression weren’t so innocent, Mi Hongdou would have thought she did it on purpose!

But… that was impossible… Ji Junxin wasn’t a dog, she wouldn’t bite her on purpose…

So the only explanation was… Ji Junxin was a mischievous idiot!

Mi Hongdou felt ridiculous, her body burning from Ji Junxin’s mischievous bite, she couldn’t help but retort!

“Look! Where’s the symmetry?!” Mi Hongdou pointed at her left shoulder, then her right. “One is a scar, the other is two rows of teeth marks! Completely different in both shape and number!”

Ji Junxin, who had only bitten Mi Hongdou on impulse, driven by an unbearable desire, didn’t care about Mi Hongdou’s complaint.

Mi Hongdou’s focus was strange. Instead of being concerned about the shape and number of marks, shouldn’t she be more concerned about the slipping towel? Ji Junxin didn’t even bother responding to Mi Hongdou’s seemingly logical argument, her attention fixed on the exposed skin above the towel.

The taste of Mi Hongdou still lingered in her mouth, and Ji Junxin swallowed. The girl’s shoulder, tender yet firm, had been tempting. Even slowing down, prolonging the bite, hadn’t been enough to satisfy her, so… she hadn’t been able to resist licking it. Compared to teeth, a tongue could gather more information, the texture and taste sending shivers down her spine, her legs almost giving way.

It was like drinking poison to quench thirst. Before the poison could take effect, Ji Junxin pulled away.

Facing Mi Hongdou, who seemed about to question her, Ji Junxin casually offered the excuse she had prepared. She had expected her excuse to be challenged, her actions questioned, but… Mi Hongdou’s complaint was about symmetry…

How… unexpected (and delightful).

Ji Junxin licked her lips. Mi Hongdou’s earlier appearance had been too tempting, and she had acted on impulse, without any logic. But one bite wasn’t enough to quench the fire in her heart. It was like adding fuel to the fire, briefly suppressing the flames, but only to make them burn even fiercer later.

One bite wasn’t enough, she wanted to devour her, to leave her mark on every inch of her skin.

Ji Junxin, her knowledge of “harmonious chapters” still limited, had no technique, only instinct, wanting to devour Mi Hongdou bite by bite.

“Hmm… it does seem asymmetrical.” Ji Junxin, masking her desire, feigned confusion, trying to appear harmless, and looked at Mi Hongdou’s shoulders thoughtfully. “It’s okay, I’ll make them symmetrical for you.”

She leaned forward.

Stepping into the same pit twice wasn’t an accident, it was stupidity!

Ji Junxin’s words set off alarm bells in Mi Hongdou’s mind. How could one scar and two bite marks be symmetrical? She would have to add another mark! Having been tricked once, Mi Hongdou wouldn’t fall for it again. As soon as Ji Junxin finished speaking, she quickly shuffled backward.

“No… no need for symmetry!” Mi Hongdou said, moving suddenly and feeling a chill. She looked down and realized that her towel had shifted, exposing almost everything. Oh my god.

Her mind reeling, her face burning, Mi Hongdou took two more steps back, grabbed her discarded clothes from the laundry basket, and held them in front of her, then, trying to maintain her composure, said to Ji Junxin, who hadn’t moved but seemed to be radiating a predatory aura, “You go out first… I’ll get dressed, and then we’ll fix the curtain.”

She couldn’t care less about acting like a good friend anymore. Even the best of friends wouldn’t stand face to face like this, one fully clothed, the other naked. It was just too strange… So, her earlier escape had been the right decision!

Winter clothes were layered, and Mi Hongdou, in her haste to cover herself, had practically pulled everything out of the laundry basket. Although the clothes were mismatched, they effectively covered her.

Ji Junxin, however, was unhappy.

It was as if God had opened a window, revealing the most beautiful scenery, then quickly closed it. And she would probably never see it again…

Ji Junxin wanted to yell, You’re cruel! You’re heartless! You’re cruel and heartless!

But some closed windows would never be opened again. Ji Junxin understood this, but she still couldn’t tear her gaze away from Mi Hongdou, even though she could only see a pile of rumpled clothes now.

The atmosphere in the bathroom was turning awkward when a sudden sneeze broke the silence.

Mi Hongdou sniffled, a little embarrassed… It was cold in the winter, and with the bathroom door open, and although the clothes blocked her front, the earlier heat had dissipated, and she felt a chill.

“Don’t worry about the curtain, go back and rinse yourself with hot water.” Ji Junxin said, her gaze fixed on Mi Hongdou, but she was backing away towards the door.

Ji Junxin understood her earlier impulse. In that brief moment of lost control, she had even thought that if she acted on her desires, Mi Hongdou might not even resist. The now calmer Ji Junxin couldn’t understand why she had thought that. But she knew… she couldn’t do it.

She had tested Mi Hongdou earlier, with the hot water bottle and the accidental touch of her foot. Mi Hongdou hadn’t shown any romantic interest. In this situation, taking advantage of Mi Hongdou’s affection, her unconditional kindness, would be wrong. Forget about the consequences of failure, even if she succeeded… how could she face Mi Hongdou as a friend again?

Today was an accident, an opportunity. But Ji Junxin felt she didn’t deserve it.

Ji Junxin retreated, and Mi Hongdou stood still.

Reaching the door, Ji Junxin smiled faintly. “Don’t worry, I’ll wait for you in the living room. I won’t come back in here.”

She turned and left, her movements decisive, seemingly without any hesitation.

Mi Hongdou, although she had been the one asking Ji Junxin to leave, felt a pang of guilt seeing her go.

But then she mentally slapped herself. She was the one who was seen naked, she was the one who was bitten! Why feel guilty!

Not wanting Ji Junxin to wait too long, Mi Hongdou quickly showered, only half-drying her hair. She came out and thoughtfully offered to find some double-sided tape to fix the curtain before Ji Junxin showered.

It had only been a little over a month since Ji Junxin last tested Mi Hongdou. She knew that Mi Hongdou hadn’t had any romantic feelings for her then, and it was unlikely for such a significant change to occur in such a short time. But… she still couldn’t resist testing her again.

“It’s okay, no need to fix it. I don’t mind you seeing me.” Ji Junxin said, taking a couple of steps towards the bathroom, then suddenly turned around and smiled. “Since I accidentally saw you naked earlier, why don’t you come in, and I’ll let you see me too, to make things even.”

She walked back towards Mi Hongdou and reached out as if to take her hand.

“No… no need…” Mi Hongdou pulled back her hand, took two steps back, and shook her head. “It wasn’t intentional.”

Ji Junxin didn’t insist, just smiled and put her hands behind her back. “Intentional or not, I still saw you. Let you see me too, and we’ll be even.” Seeing Mi Hongdou still shaking her head, Ji Junxin winked playfully. “We’re both girls, I don’t mind, and I’m not too bad to look at.”

Although Ji Junxin’s tone was light and playful, Mi Hongdou’s throat tightened, and her heart raced.

Just listening to her, imagining it, made her nose bleed, how could she actually look!

Mi Hongdou shook her head vigorously.

Ji Junxin, seeing her firm refusal, couldn’t continue her offer. She quickly said, her tone still playful, “Well, I did offer to compensate you. You’re the one who refused, don’t regret it later. And no peeking!” Then, seeing Mi Hongdou switch from shaking her head to nodding, she quickly turned and walked towards the bathroom.

Ji Junxin was finally gone. Mi Hongdou breathed a sigh of relief. Being seen naked by Ji Junxin was embarrassing enough, but seeing Ji Junxin naked… she might faint!… Just imagining it made her blood boil! She touched her nose, thankfully, it wasn’t bleeding.

Having been Ji Junxin’s fan for so long, Mi Hongdou had always placed her on a pedestal. Even now, sharing a room, knowing her own feelings, she only thought about how to take care of Ji Junxin. Seeing a naked Ji Junxin… she hadn’t even dared to imagine it. Ji Junxin’s offer was like Pandora’s box, and Mi Hongdou resisted. Not just because she was afraid of losing control, but also because… Ji Junxin didn’t know her feelings, it was just a playful offer between friends, accepting it would be taking advantage, it would be disrespecting Ji Junxin’s attempt to ease her embarrassment.

Mi Hongdou felt quite righteous about her decision, but she didn’t realize that her righteousness had brought Ji Junxin to tears. Ji Junxin was now quietly crying in the bathroom, the sound of running water masking her sobs.

And she had every reason to cry! Although she knew Mi Hongdou didn’t have romantic feelings for her, she had still clung to a sliver of hope, summoning all her courage to make that embarrassing offer! And Mi Hongdou hadn’t taken the bait at all! It was a huge blow to her pride! Ji Junxin felt embarrassed, ashamed, and miserable.

Loving someone so much that you wanted to devour them whole, and then… being rejected, even after such a blatant invitation, it was… tragic…

I even said, “We’re both girls, I don’t mind,” Ji Junxin thought, filled with regret and sadness. Who doesn’t mind?! If it weren’t you, I would have strangled her! She hid in the shower, biting her fist and sobbing quietly.

The shower had just been turned on, the steam hadn’t yet fogged up the glass. If Mi Hongdou walked past and glanced inside, she might have seen Ji Junxin’s heartbroken expression.

But… she wouldn’t walk past. Ji Junxin knew this, and it made her even sadder.

In the kitchen, Mi Hongdou, while still processing the strange sensation of being bitten by Ji Junxin, was efficiently preparing the filling. Thanks to everyone’s hard work, they had been finishing early recently. After showering, there was plenty of time to cook.

But she didn’t want to deal with oily fumes after showering. So, tonight’s dinner was… dumplings. She had asked Bai Tang to buy fresh shepherd’s purse, and she would make shepherd’s purse and pork dumplings.

The pork, ground from a whole piece at the market, didn’t contain any Chinese yam, which Ji Junxin disliked. After grinding, Mi Hongdou felt it was still a bit coarse, so she minced it further before putting it in a large bowl.

After preparing the pork, she cleaned and chopped the shepherd’s purse, blanched it, drained it, and then put it in another bowl.

Ji Junxin was still showering. Knowing that salt would draw out the moisture from the shepherd’s purse, Mi Hongdou decided to wait until Ji Junxin was finished before mixing the filling, to preserve the texture.

After a while, Ji Junxin came out, but her face was covered with a white sheet mask. Mi Hongdou, hearing the sound and turning around, almost jumped out of her skin.

“It’s so cold, isn’t the mask freezing?” Mi Hongdou frowned. Ji Junxin had good skin, wouldn’t a face mask in this weather be too cold?

“It’s alright…” Ji Junxin peeked at the ingredients Mi Hongdou was preparing. “Are we having dumplings tonight?”

“Shepherd’s purse and pork, want some?” Mi Hongdou started rolling up her sleeves. “I’ll just mix the filling and then we can start wrapping. I’ll cook you a bowl first, it’ll be quick.”

Ji Junxin stopped her. “I’m… a little sleepy. Can I have some after I take a nap?”

Ji Junxin’s voice was a little hoarse, well, it had been a little hoarse earlier too. For Ji Junxin to give up on food and want to nap, she must be really tired… Mi Hongdou naturally agreed, glad that she hadn’t mixed the filling yet.

After covering the bowls with plastic wrap, Mi Hongdou returned to the bedroom and was surprised to find the blackout curtains drawn, the room dark, and Ji Junxin already in bed, seemingly asleep.

Asleep so quickly? Did she even take off the mask?… Mi Hongdou wanted to check, took a few steps, then changed her mind, turned on her phone’s flashlight, and checked the trash can. Seeing a discarded mask inside, she was relieved.

But if she hadn’t changed her mind and gone to check on Ji Junxin, she would have seen a crying, pitiful figure.

Because she had cried in the bathroom and her eyes were red, Ji Junxin, afraid of being seen, had used the face mask as an excuse to go to bed, hoping her eyes would return to normal. But as soon as she was nestled in the soft, warm bed, the grievances returned, and she started crying again.

She heard Mi Hongdou enter and immediately stopped crying, even holding her breath. She had already made up too many excuses today, and although the unsuspecting Mi Hongdou seemed to believe them all, she didn’t want to make up another one to explain her sadness.

What was there to explain… It’s your fault! It’s all your fault!

Mi Hongdou entered, walked around, then got into her own bed. So Ji Junxin couldn’t cry anymore… Unable to even cry, her stomach rumbling, she thought of the delicious shepherd’s purse and pork dumplings… Ji Junxin tearfully drifted off to sleep, filled with resentment.

Chapter 103: Accidental Exposure

Mi Hongdou, sprawled on the bathroom floor, felt dizzy.

She had thought showering first wouldn’t be a big deal. But now, she had been seen naked!

After that eye contact with Ji Junxin, and the hard fall, Mi Hongdou clung to a shred of rationality. Despite the pain, she instinctively covered herself with the towel.

She remembered an online joke: If you were naked in a public bathhouse when a fire broke out, and you had to run outside with only a small towel, would you cover your chest or your lower body? The answer: You fool, cover your face!

Now, with only a towel, what should she cover?

She had fallen sideways, facing the glass door, facing Ji Junxin. Instinctively, she covered her chest, then, seeing Ji Junxin’s gaze on her abdomen, she quickly pulled the towel lower. Fortunately, it was much larger than the one in the joke. It barely covered her lower body, exposing most of her breasts, but at least the crucial parts were hidden. Mi Hongdou mentally praised her quick thinking.

So, if this were a brain teaser, where should she place the towel?

The correct answer: roll over, turn her back to Ji Junxin, and the towel would only need to cover one area.

Of course, Mi Hongdou’s mind wasn’t working, let alone capable of solving brain teasers.

From falling to covering herself, it had all happened in a flash. Only then did she realize, had she been too deliberate? If a friend saw you naked after a fall, the normal reaction… shouldn’t be to cover yourself, right? It should be… to ask for help? Or to get up quickly? In this situation, she didn’t want to interact with Ji Junxin at all! She just wanted the ground to swallow her whole!

Mi Hongdou cautiously looked up at Ji Junxin, then froze. Ji Junxin had just… left.

Although she also found the situation incredibly embarrassing, Ji Junxin just leaving without a word of concern hurt Mi Hongdou’s feelings.

But with Ji Junxin gone, the awkwardness also seemed to dissipate slightly.

However, this slight relief and hurt only lasted for a few seconds.

Because… as Mi Hongdou pushed herself up to her knees, the bathroom door opened.

She left, didn’t she! Mi Hongdou looked up at Ji Junxin, who also seemed to be blushing, and clutched the towel tighter, pulling it lower…

Inside the bathroom door was the vanity area, the shower stall was separate. The steam was usually contained within the stall and then vented out, not affecting the rest of the bathroom. That was why, when the curtain fell, Ji Junxin, standing outside, had a clear, unobstructed view of Mi Hongdou.

Ji Junxin, rushing towards the sound of the crash, her heart pounding from the running, and then seeing the naked girl inside, her heart leaped into her throat.

Her first impression was of smooth, white skin, like jade, flawless. Mi Hongdou’s wet hair was messily tied up, a few strands clinging to her shoulders. Ji Junxin could almost see water droplets sliding down her shoulders…

Downwards…

Her delicate collarbones, usually hidden by clothes, her unexpectedly ample breasts, the light pink nipples small and cute, making one wonder if they would become even more enticing when aroused. Ji Junxin’s gaze almost lingered there, unwilling to move.

Unfortunately… gravity dictated that the water droplets couldn’t reach those soft peaks.

But it didn’t matter. Lower regions had their own allure…

Mi Hongdou was standing on one leg, the other raised, her calf resting on her knee, her legs forming the shape of the number “4.” And because of this posture, the top of the “4” was slightly open… Although from Ji Junxin’s angle, she couldn’t see much beyond a glimpse of… thatch… she couldn’t help but imagine the hidden scenery.

The water droplet, sliding down Mi Hongdou’s shoulder, couldn’t reach those soft peaks, but… it would eventually reach that hidden valley. Ji Junxin, thinking this, suddenly felt a pang of jealousy towards the water droplet, freely traveling across Mi Hongdou’s body. If she were that droplet, she would definitely fall into that valley, but before that, she would explore the peaks.

Since seeing the naked Mi Hongdou through the glass door, Ji Junxin had been in a daze, her thoughts uncontrolled.

Instinct took over. Her heart pounded, a heavy, rapid beat she could barely endure.

Their eye contact was brief. Almost as soon as their gazes met, Mi Hongdou, startled, lost her balance and fell, landing awkwardly.

Awkward, that was Mi Hongdou’s feeling. To Ji Junxin, it wasn’t awkward at all.

Looking down at someone gave you a sense of power, a sense of control, like a predator eyeing its prey.

Mi Hongdou’s hair tie, already loose, came undone as she fell, her wet hair spilling around her.

Helpless, vulnerable, defenseless, unlike her earlier untouchable demeanor, she now looked… soft and submissive.

Ji Junxin almost opened the door and rushed in.

But… she was a step too late.

Mi Hongdou, sprawled on the floor, looked utterly vulnerable.

If earlier, Ji Junxin had just wanted to be a water droplet, tracing the contours of Mi Hongdou’s body, now, looking down at her, she wanted to… pounce, to claim her, to preserve this moment of vulnerability. She wanted to touch her, to trace the paths the water droplets had taken, to explore every hidden curve with her lips.

Ji Junxin shook her head, trying to dispel these sudden, almost frightening thoughts. Mi Hongdou had just fallen, and she wasn’t even checking if she was okay, what was she thinking!

Just as she managed to regain some control, Mi Hongdou moved.

She quickly unfolded the towel and covered her chest.

Ji Junxin’s first reaction was relief, seeing that Mi Hongdou was still conscious enough to cover herself. Her second reaction was, Don’t cover yourself!

With one area covered, Ji Junxin’s gaze instinctively shifted to another.

And then Mi Hongdou pulled the towel lower, covering that area as well.

To Ji Junxin, the vulnerable Mi Hongdou on the floor was like prey, and she was annoyed by the towel blocking her view.

But this annoyance quickly vanished.

The towel was too small. Covering one area meant exposing another. Trying to cover both was a struggle.

The light pink nipples were covered, but the towel, stretched taut, created a… tempting cleavage.

Her lower body was barely covered, the towel held in place by Mi Hongdou’s hand, the fabric stretched to its limit.

Mi Hongdou, in her panic, hadn’t noticed, or perhaps she hadn’t expected Ji Junxin’s thoughts to go to such a… place.

Ji Junxin saw… the slightly curled-up girl on the floor, her left hand pressing the towel against her chest, her right hand, palm up, fingers curled around the edge of the towel. And because the towel kept trying to spring back, she had to constantly tug at it.

… it was as if her fingers were… moving back and forth beneath the towel.

Of course, Ji Junxin knew it wasn’t… but the girl’s skin, no longer its earlier pristine white, was now flushed with a light pink, her expression a mixture of panic and anxiety, and that constant movement of her hand… Ji Junxin’s mind went blank, her heart pounding.

Ji Junxin, overwhelmed by the unintentionally suggestive sight, realized that her earlier fantasies of touching and exploring weren’t enough. She wanted to… do that to Mi Hongdou. She wanted to pull Mi Hongdou’s hand away and replace it with her own!

Her mind hazy, her breath hot, Ji Junxin felt like she was burning up, her vision blurring, her throat dry, she swallowed unconsciously.

Damn those suggestive chapters! She blamed the yuri novels she had been reading.

No, I can’t let this continue!

The sight before her was too tempting, too alluring, but the last vestiges of her reason forced her to leave, to leave quickly.

Reason prevailed.

Ji Junxin fled, and when she finally stopped, she was in the living room.

There was a half-empty glass of water on the coffee table, probably from last night.

She picked it up and gulped it down.

The icy water, carrying the chill of winter, flowed down her throat, chilling her from the inside. She felt like her organs were freezing, a painful coldness.

But the effect was immediate. Her body cooled down, then her mind, her blurry vision clearing.

She had to go back and help Mi Hongdou up!

What kind of friend would just leave after seeing their friend fall naked in the bathroom? It would be too suspicious!

Although she had just been fantasizing about Mi Hongdou, being a good friend was the priority.

She ran back to the bathroom, grabbing the first-aid kit from the living room on the way. She would say she had gone to get the kit, worried about Mi Hongdou’s injuries. It was a flimsy excuse, but better than nothing. She had just thought of this explanation when she saw Mi Hongdou kneeling on the floor.

Kneeling, submission, servitude…

Ji Junxin froze, watching…

The naked girl, her hair disheveled, knelt before her, her slightly flushed skin turning even pinker, then red.

During the birthing scene earlier, Mi Hongdou had also knelt like this, reaching between her legs… touching her… and then she had felt… that.

That forbidden, unbearable, overwhelming pleasure… was it… caused by Mi Hongdou, in this position?

Yes… she hadn’t seen this angle before. In this position, in this attire, or rather, lack thereof, even without being touched, just looking at her like this… she felt a strange stirring, a familiar feeling she hadn’t expected to experience again.

The fragile thread of reason in Ji Junxin’s mind snapped.

She wanted to touch every inch of Mi Hongdou’s skin, to replace the towel with her own hands, to be touched by the kneeling Mi Hongdou, to re-experience that unfinished pleasure…

Unable to resist, Ji Junxin opened the bathroom door.

The warmth of the bathroom and the chill of the living room mingled.

Mi Hongdou, still kneeling on the floor, shivered, either from the cold air or from Ji Junxin’s sudden appearance.

Ji Junxin, standing in the doorway, felt a surge of heat, either from the warmth of the bathroom or from the scent of Mi Hongdou’s shower gel and shampoo.

“I… brought the first-aid kit… are you hurt?” She stepped into the bathroom, then stopped, unsure of the look in her eyes. Was it the look of a predator eyeing its prey? Or a cat in heat? She tried to control her expression, but her voice was still hoarse.

Fortunately, Mi Hongdou didn’t seem to notice.

“I’m fine…” With Ji Junxin practically inside the bathroom, Mi Hongdou couldn’t worry about how to get up gracefully. If Ji Junxin helped her, she would probably combust! She quickly got to her feet, clutching the towel.

“Oh…” Ji Junxin replied absentmindedly, her gaze fixed on the glimpse of skin revealed by the shifting towel.

Ji Junxin was struggling. One part of her, conditioned by years of propriety, criticized her for taking advantage of Mi Hongdou’s vulnerability. The other part just wanted to… look a little longer…

Instinct won.

“Um…” Mi Hongdou thought that even between friends, in this situation, shouldn’t Ji Junxin give her some privacy, let her shower, or at least change? Reminding her would be a normal thing to do, right?

While Mi Hongdou was thinking about how a good friend should act, Ji Junxin, acting on instinct, took another step, closing the distance between them. They were now only a can of cola apart.

Mi Hongdou felt her throat tighten. Even in this tense situation, she could still think of using a can of cola for comparison.

Ji Junxin’s fingertip lightly touched Mi Hongdou’s left shoulder.

Mi Hongdou’s attention was on her shoulder, she didn’t even notice her own involuntary shiver.

Then, Ji Junxin, her eyes smiling, leaned closer to Mi Hongdou’s right shoulder and bit down.

Mi Hongdou’s mind went blank.

After a moment, Ji Junxin lifted her head and took a step back.

They were now three cans of cola apart.

“You…” Mi Hongdou’s lips moved, speechless.

Ji Junxin looked at the new mark on Mi Hongdou’s shoulder, then at the exposed nipple above the slipping towel, licked her lips, and said seriously, “Don’t you know, symmetry is beauty?”

Symmetry my ass!